Ruby Duran

Ruby G. Duran was born to Lee and Beatrice Maes on October 16, 1954, in Denver CO. She was the third child of seven. Ruby is survived by her sisters, Jody, Linda, Brenda, Lorraine and one brother, Abel. Preceded by her brother Don in 2013.

Ruby met her husband, Tom, when they were both students at Denver West high school. They were married in 1972 and immediately started a family of three children. Antonia the oldest, followed by Misty and their son Tomas. Ruby was employed as a senior clerk with Denver Health, formerly known as Denver General Hospital. Ruby thoroughly enjoyed her time working on the labor and delivery floor where many good friends were made and gained a reputation for being an excellent employee. Ruby was forced into early retirement due to being diagnosed with scleroderma and lupus.

Ruby was a strong force with her family because she would have to be the one to hold down the fort when Tom would work his twenty-four-hour shifts with the Denver Fire Department. Her children still laugh when they reminisce about the times Ruby had to discipline them. They would plead and cry when Ruby punished them and then giggle when Ruby walked away. She was lenient to a fault! Our house was always filled with the neighborhood children and Ruby had a soft heart for all of them as testament to how they reached out to the family at the end of her life.

Because Ruby was suffering from the ugly disease of scleroderma, lupus, and several other related illnesses, she was limited to the ability to thrive outside of the home. But no matter how hard her day was she always lit up when grandchildren visited. It didn’t matter about the age, be it 35 years or the two-year-old twins, “Yes” was always the answer when she was asked to babysit. Many times, they would spend the night, and Ruby would have them ready for school the next day so that their parents could have a better day. As most of the children were close in age there was many a skirmish as to who got to sit next to Grams in her favorite chair.

Ruby had a sly sense of humor, for example, the time she prepared Ronni’s school lunch when she was seven years old. When she gave her the lunch bag, she asked Ronni if that was what she wanted. Ronni looking in the bag immediately turned red and said she couldn’t take it to school. When asked why, Ronni took out a can of beer! She so loved her babies.

Besides being survived by her siblings, Ruby is survived by husband Thomas Duran. Her three children: Antonia, Misty Padilla (Frank), Tomas (Corrine). Seven grandchildren: Jessica, Desiree, Andalecia, Justina, Ronni, Tomas Jr., Frank Cruz and seven great grandchildren: Maiya, Madek, Sophia, Luca, Elias, and the twins Milli and Milo.

In the end, Ruby was surrounded by all her immediate family. She was deeply loved and will be missed.

A memorial service for Ruby will be held Thursday, May 15, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary - Pavilion of Reflection, 7777 West 29th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033. Following the memorial service will be a committal service from 11:00 AM to 11:35 AM at Olinger Crown Hill Cemetery, 7777 West 29th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033. There will be a Reception immediately to follow at 12 Lakeside Lane, Denver Colorado,80212. This event will last till 3:00 p.m.