Accident victim remembered

Maria Angelica Sisneros is remembered by her daughter as being "definitely one of a kind."

"She liked being able to help people," Anna Castillo said. "She was a people person and loved to help those in need. She wanted to be the voice for those who didn't have one. Her big thing was helping the underprivileged, the needy."

Sisneros died in a one-car accident at Hull and Brady streets on April 23. Her daughter remembers her for much more.

Castillo remembered her mother as a long-time student at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales where she and her family moved when Sisneros was 5.

Sisneros graduated from ENMU in 1997 and had "all kinds of minors" according to Castillo: women's studies, education, New Mexico literature, bilingual education and more.

"She went to school forever," Castillo said.

Castillo also remembers her mother telling stories of growing up in Portales, how when her mother was a teenager on Friday nights she would get together with her cousins and friends and go to a burger joint on the square and have burgers and shakes and a good time.

Sisneros loved to travel. In the early 1990s, Castillo remembers her mother went to Washington, D.C., and worked at a summer internship for the Smithsonian Institution. Sisneros returned with many photos and souvenirs of her time in D.C.

Sisneros liked to go on what she called her "Sisters Trip" when she and her two siblings would go to Las Vegas, Nev.

Sisneros also traveled to visit her grandchildren in Santa Fe and Texas.

"Her grandkids, nieces and nephews were her pride and joy," Castillo said.

Castillo said her mother would help the homeless she encountered, giving the person a few dollars, buying them some food.

"She was always praying for people," Castillo said. "And she'd always pray for rain because the smell of rain always reminded her of her mother."

Sisneros had worked as a Family Assistance Analyst II with the New Mexico Human Services Income Support Division for 20 years. It was there in 2016 that her resolve in helping the needy was tested when she encountered apparent fraud.

Castillo remembers her mother saying, "I'm calling them all out." Sisneros became a whistleblower, reporting instances of fraud in the income support division's Portales office.

Castillo said that fraud was being committed with unauthorized use of EBT cards.

"Some of the employees, no longer there, were loading up EBT cards for their personal use," Castillo said. "And falsifying documents."

Castillo said her mother had helped a lot of people in her job and that's how she stumbled on the malfeasance.

Sisneros and Dianna Sprague never met but Sisneros' actions in fighting fraud inspired Sprague, executive director of The Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico.

"I can't imagine the courage it took for her to come forward as a whistleblower," Sprague said. "When I read that story, it inspired me to start our own SNAP Outreach and Advocacy for the Food Bank. I hope that she will always be remembered for her bravery."