Desiree Najar

Desiree (Desi) Lanay Najar
A funeral Mass is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 5, 2017 at the Assumption Catholic Church for a beautiful soul who was a beloved mother, daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, cousin and friend, Desiree Lanay Najar, 34, who passed away on August 30, 2017, in Roswell, New Mexico following a difficult illness. Interment will be in South Park Cemetery. A Rosary will be held on Tuesday, September 5, 2017, at 9:00 a.m., at the Assumption Catholic Church.
Desiree was born on June 12, 1983, in Roswell, to Rudolph Najar, Jr. and Diane Cobos Ventura, who survive her.
Desiree is survived by her sons, Albert Luis Montoya, Jr. (Albie) and Isaiah Jude Montoya (Za Za), her father Rudolph Najar, Jr., her mother, Diane Ventura her step-father Joe Ventura of Roswell. Grandparents: Rudolph and Lupe Najar of Roswell, Roy Guerrero of Riverside, California. Great-Aunt Jeannie Mireles (husband Eloy) of Rio Rancho. Siblings: Rick Najar of Melbourne, Australia, Kristy Najar Torres (husband, Josh) of Roswell, Autumn Najar of Roswell, Santiago (Santi) Castillo (brother-in-law), Frankie Ventura (fiancée McKenzie) of Roswell, and Laudun Aree of Roswell. Six nephews: Isaac Najar and Jacob Najar of Melbourne, Australia, Joshua Torres, Tristin Torres, Marcus Torres, Josiah Castillo and Amiah Castillo all of Roswell, Aunts: Gloria Espinoza (husband Frank) of Roswell, Rita Gabaldon (husband Frank) of Roswell, Darlene Gonzalez of Roswell, Lorraine Guerrero Hiland of Joshua Tree, CA, Becky Guerrero of Perris, CA and Malinda Guerrero of Austin, Texas, Ramona Dominguez (husband Robert), Linda Cobos, and Lydia Lara of Roswell. Uncles: Raul Orona of Roswell, Tony Najar(wife Jill) of Roswell. Special Friends: Natalie Cherinko , Sophia Burrola of Roswell, Vic Torres, Bert Griego of Alamogordo, Cory Pettersen and all the staff at Fresenius Dialysis Center. Best Friend Forever: Albert Luis Montoya, Sr.
Desiree knew no stranger and had a compassion for everyone. She loved life and cared about those less fortunate than herself-whether it was the homeless on a corner, an elder person walking with their walker or someone down and out-she would say "mom can we buy him a meal?" or "mom, look at that elderly man/woman, they are so cute" or "can we go back and I can give them my $5 even if it is my last $5 dollars that's okay." This is just the kind of person that "My Desi" was her entire life.
She took pleasure in being an awesome "Tia" to her nephews and niece. She was the first person to call them on their birthday. She was always the person to call them to say "great job" for their games -whether she was able to make it or not. She enjoyed inviting them over to spend the night and waking to make them those "BIG" breakfasts in the morning. She was still a kid at heart.
Her brother-in-law, Josh, said it best, "Desi lived a 100 years in 34 years!" That she did... she lived like she was dying. Sick or not, good days or bad days, she lived on as if there were no tomorrow.
Desiree was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 10. As her mother, this is a day that will forever be etched in my mind and the kind of news that no parent ever wants to hear. She struggled with this disease for 24 years along with other struggles. As with any mother, you fight the fight with your child no matter the cost and to the end. For us, there were numerous ER visits, hospital stays, doctor visits, calls to 911, near death experiences and death experiences. During one such moment, Desiree told us about traveling through a tunnel towards the light and her grandfather was standing there waving her back. She said, "Mom, it was so beautiful that I just wanted to go to the light even if I knew you and everyone else that I loved was left behind. Grandpa told me to go back because it wasn't my time. When I came to, the paramedics were standing over me working on me."
I am sharing this story with you because there is a life lesson to be learned here...diabetes is a terrible disease that not only affects the individual, but their loved ones as well. It is a silent killer that robs our loved ones of their bodies. Many times the signs are not visible on the outside...then one day you wake up and you are on dialysis. The message here is take control and take care of yourself. Desiree wrote the following poem and if it helps to bring an awareness to this disease, then even in death Desiree's struggles have not been in vain.
Poem "My Pride"
I got diagnosed with diabetes when I was only ten years old
This disease has no cure is what I was told

The doctors warned me of complications from the very first day
They also told me I could live a very normal life, but I had to take care of myself in the right way

It was so much easier when I was young because I had my mom right by my side
Now that I am on my own, I haven't even tried

I don't know what it is that is so hard for me
I know that I am sick, but why can't I see

It might be I'm in denial-I don't want to have this
Being a normal healthy person is what I miss

Well I am twenty-four now and the complications are now what I have to deal with
I guess I thought all the bad things I heard were nothing but myths

I have neuropathy now and I have to take nine pills a day
If I could change the past, I would have changed my ways

I didn't listen to my doctors I guess I thought I knew it all
I did what I wanted and now here's my downfall

I lost my vision in my right eye
I always told myself if I ever went blind, that I would just die

Well now the day has come and it's nobody's fault but mine
I told myself it's not the end of the world and it will work out fine

Being blind doesn't change the person that I am inside
I will always hold my head up high
Because there's one thing my diabetes can't take from me
...and that is my pride

Written By Desiree Najar

Pallbearers will be Frankie Ventura, Raul Orona, Josh Torres, Santiago (Santi) Castillo, Mo Espinoza, and Michael Candelaria.
Honorary Pallbearers are Rick Najar, Richard Cobos, Jason Dominguez, Richard Lara, Albert Montoya, Sr., Natalie Cherinko, Sophia Burrola, Sammy Guerrero, Ethan Espinoza, Frank Albert Gabaldon, Frank Filip Espinoza, Celesete Gabaldon, Francine Gabaldon, Adrian Gonzalez, and Cisco Gonzalez

Des, your pain and suffering is over. As your mother, I am going to miss you...I would spend another 34 years fighting your fight with you. Your kind-spirit and caring ways bring me comfort in knowing without a doubt that you are in Heaven with the angels. Love, Mom

Visitation

Ballard Funeral Home
910 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203
Monday, September 4, 2017
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Service

Rosary

Assumption Catholic Church
2808 N. Kentucky
Roswell, NM  88201
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
9:00

Funeral Mass

Assumption Catholic Church
2808 N. Kentucky
Roswell, NM  88201
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
9:30

Cemetery

South Park Cemetery
3101 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203