Born on December 10, 1934 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, she experienced an idyllic childhood at the American Smelting & Refining Company colony in Avalos, Chihuahua.
Lolita was married to the love of her life, Ernest Fernando Goeldner, for 57 years.
She was an incredible Mother, not only to her 6 children, but to countless others who found a safe, fun and happy place at her home on Darwood Drive. We will always remember all the times she drove the entire neighborhood to and from Mesita and all-around town in the brown van. We’d inevitably end up at the Darwood house where everyone would play, eat and cause chaos.
But Sunday lunch was her favorite, where all the extended family would gather for a meal at her house after Church.
Our Mom loved to dance, swim, bowl, play bingo and any kind of board or card game (especially solitaire).
She left her home in Mexico to attend high school and live in the dorms at Loretto Academy in El Paso, where she made life-long friends. After pausing her education to get married and raise her children, she went back to UTEP in her 60s to obtain her education degree. She then began her career as a bilingual pre-school teacher at Alta Vista Elementary, teaching full-time until she was 75. After retiring, she served as a substitute teacher until her early 80s.
Lolita was a devout Catholic and practiced her faith constantly. She loved attending Mass at St. Patrick’s and would go more than once a day if she had the chance. Always looking for ways to worship and be of service to the Lord, she served with the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and was a member of the St. Patrick’s Altar Society for many years. She was a long-time volunteer at the Opportunity Center for the Homeless and the Annunciation House in addition to many other organizations.
Our Mom is preceded in death by her parents, Andrew Oscar Bradford and Dolores Furber, her beloved brother Alan, and her husband, Ernest Fernando Goeldner.
She is survived by her children, Kathleen (Andrew) Neal, Tricia (J.L.) Jay, Debbie (Jay) Saad, Ernie (Kaarin) Goeldner, Kurt (Cheryl) Goeldner and Michael Goeldner; her 15 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren; her sister, Margie, her brothers, Andy and Charlie; and numerous nieces, nephews and dear friends.
Her legacy of kindness, faith, love and service will continue to inspire us all.
The family wishes to thank Elizabeth Ramirez and all of the kind and caring staff at White Acres and Enhabit Hospice for taking such good care of her. We are also very grateful to all the Eucharistic Ministers who ministered to her especially these past few years.
We invite friends and family to the visitation at Martin Funeral Home, 128 N. Resler, on Monday, February 3, from 5 to 7 pm, with the Rosary at 6 pm. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Tuesday, February 4, at 10:30 am. Live stream can be found on our Facebook page by clicking on the following link https://www.facebook.com/share/12EMXqozGkG/
