Velia Betty Fitzgerald

Betty was born in Granada, CO a small town in Prowers County Colorado. She was one of seven brothers and sisters. Throughout her childhood she and her brothers took many jobs, including field work picking seasonal crops, to support and keep the family together. She graduated from Granada High School.

She married her first husband Paul Andrade of Lamar, Colorado a small town nearby. They moved to Denver, Colorado and had three girls, Dolores, Yvonne and Cynthia. She was divorced from Paul in 1966. She met and married Philip Fitzgerald in 1967.

Throughout her life Betty worked hard and took many different jobs. In the mid-1950's she worked as an elevator operator for the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. It was there where she met many dignitaries and movie stars including President Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Eisenhower. During their stay she was assigned solely as their personal elevator operator. In the mid-1960's she worked for Martin Marietta Corporation as a mission parts specialist where she built specific rocket parts for the space transportation program. In early 1970 she and Phil moved to New York for a couple of years. During that time she worked in a advertising agency where she was the office manager and secretary. She often said she loved living in the Big Apple. Upon her return to Denver she went to work for Western Electric as a supervisory parts specialist. The company eventually merged with AT&T. It was there that because of a chemical spill accident she was forced to take disability retirement because of damage to her health. During her later years she worked for many different senior agencies as a caregiver to the elderly. She continued to work into her 80's.

Betty had many talents and accomplishments throughout her life. One such talent was designing and remodeling homes with her husband Phil. Together they bought and remodeled many different styles of homes during the 1980's, 1990's and early 2000's. One such home ended up as a spread in the Colorado Homes and Lifestyle magazine. Betty always loved to entertain and hosted many parties and holidays with family and friends and she continued to do so until her illness finally took over and she could no longer do it.

She is survived by her three daughter's Dolores Andrade-Mejias (Francisco), Yvonne Marsh (Alton), and Cynthia Mejia (Alfonso), her brother Raymond Villalva, sister Mary Lopez, her beloved grandchildren Anthony, Alejandro, Ryan, Danielle, Amanda, Monique, and Evelio, her beloved great-grandchildren Ayden, Cole, Addison, Giovanni, Christiano, and Guiliano and numerous nephews, nieces, and other family members and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband Philip Fitzgerald, her father Manual Villalva, her mother Jacinta Villalva, her brothers Albert Villalva, Felix "Caly" Villalva and Leo Villalva, and her sister Louise Silva.

A memorial service for Betty will be held Friday, September 3, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary, Chapel of Peace. A committal service will occur Monday, September 13, 2021 at 9:30 AM at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W. Kenyon Ave., Denver, CO 80236.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CrownHillFuneral.com for the Fitzgerald family.