Mabel E. Abeyta

Mabel Abeyta, 86, of St. Marys, died while surrounded by family and the rosary on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

Mabel was born at home on February 2, 1940, in Faracita, Colorado, to Telos and Senida Aguirre. When she was seven years old, her mother died in childbirth, and her father later remarried. She had a total of three sisters and nine half-brothers and half-sisters.

Mabel grew up working very hard on the farm until she moved away at the age of 18. In June of 1961, she married Remigio Abeyta. While he was in the Air Force, they traveled to Nova Scotia; Newfoundland; Bangor, Maine; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; and then to the Panama Canal Zone, where she gave birth to her daughter, Lisa.

They were later sent to Wichita Falls, Texas; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Cheyenne, Wyoming, until her husband was again stationed in the Panama Canal Zone. Throughout all of her travels, Mabel had many adventures, which she would gladly share with fondness.

They eventually divorced, and she lived in Fort Collins, Colorado, until moving to St. Mary’s, Kansas, in 1991.

Mabel loved her Catholic Faith and her family very much and lived a very simple life dedicated to both.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Bertha Vigil of Denver, Colorado, Beatrice Olivas of St. Mary’s, Kansas, Barbara Gonzalez of Kentucky; and her brother, Jerry of Walsenburg, Colorado.

She is survived by her only daughter, Lisa (Scott) Sanders of St. Mary’s, Kansas; and her eight grandchildren, Matthew, Phillip, Joseph, Angelina Zach (Blaine) of Silverton, Oregon, Lily, Emiliana, Gabriel, and Magdalena. She is also survived by her sisters Ida Gallegos, Anna Estrada and Stella Marquez. And her brothers Arthur Aguirre, Leo Aguirre, Lawrence Aguirre, Henry Aguirre and Albert Aguirre.

A Visitation will be held from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys, KS. Following the Visitation, Rosary will be recited for Mabel at 5:20 PM at the Immaculata, 701 N. 2nd St., in St. Marys, Kansas. A Sung Requiem Mass will be offered for the repose of her soul at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, also at the Immaculata, with burial to follow at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery. All are invited to attend a reception afterward in Saint Joseph’s Hall.

Memorial Contributions in Mabel’s memory may be made to The Immaculata, 701 N. 2nd St., St. Marys, KS 66536 to be used towards the new statuary for the center circle of the Cemetery which will have a scene of our Lord raising Lazarus from the dead. Memorial contributions may be made through this LINK or left in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, KS 66536