Margaret J Guanella

A beautiful woman with a wonderful spirit has passed after gracefully navigating Alzheimer’s disease for far too long. Margaret J. (Peggy) Guanella née Whitecotton passed away Sunday, August 28, 2016. Peggy was born on May the 5th, 1933 in Terre Haute, Indiana to Lillian Louise (McBride) and Donald Charles Whitecotton. The youngest of three girls, she was brought home to her doting sisters Donna Ann and Norma Gayle with whom she shared a great bond throughout all of their lives.

Peggy’s early years were not easy as she grew up during the great depression. A great deal of her childhood was spent in Akron, Ohio. After many years struggling in Akron the family moved to Colorado, California, Arizona, back to Ohio and finally back to Englewood, Colorado where they settled. Peggy’s young and turbulent life finally began looking up. She attended school in Englewood and some of the happiest days of her life were her years at Englewood High School. She participated in sports, served as the president of the GAA and was a cheerleader. She took great pride in being able to beat the boys at nearly every sport they challenged her to. Englewood High School is where she met the love of her life, A.J. Guanella; and many dear friends with whom she shared wonderful life-long friendships. Peggy graduated high school in 1951, she and A.J. were married on June 10th, 1952.

Her proudest accomplishment in life was being a loving and supportive housewife and raising her four children in Englewood and Littleton. She was the consummate mother, her home always tended to, home-cooked meals on the table each night and clothes neatly pressed. She loved gardening, had exquisite perennial beds and a manicured lawn. Holiday meals were something to behold with extra leaves added to the dining room table and extended family always present. Peggy loved Christmas, decorating her home, cooking up her special Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas brunch and choosing a huge, very special tree to decorate just so! She was very involved in raising her children including serving as president of the PTA and many times a room mother; driving to and from soccer, football, baseball, and basketball practices and cheering at all the games, piano lessons and horse shows. When her girls became interested in horses, she was all in even though she had no experience with horses. She became involved with the Little Britches Rodeo, Little Britches Youth Association, gymkhanas and drill teams. Hauling and loading horses at all hours of the day and night were nothing for her; she happily hauled for those who didn’t have a trailer. Camping trips, trail rides and parades were all enjoyed.

Once the kids were raised, Peggy had time to focus on her own interests. Peggy worked for Denver’s Channel 6 television station, procuring art from New Mexico for their auction fundraiser. This endeavor led to her love of southwest and Native American art. In 1988, she published a magazine Artists and Artisans in Colorado, placed in hotels and restaurants around the state, giving a platform to Colorado artists. Road trips were a favorite activity as she and her friends would travel to New Mexico in search of great art, pottery, jewelry, the best Mexican food, incredible landscapes and memorable experiences. In 1990, Peggy and Vonn Wagoneer were instrumental in procuring a bronze sculpture celebrating Littleton’s centennial year. “Year of Sunday” by sculptor Rik Sargent graces the west bound entrance to this day on Littleton Boulevard as it turns into Main Street heading into downtown Littleton.

Peggy campaigned to help get passed the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) funding from a sales and use tax. Since 1989, SCFD has distributed funds from a 1/10 of 1% sales and use tax to help fund cultural facilities throughout the seven-county, metro-Denver area. The funds support art, music, theatre, dance, zoology, botany, natural and cultural history.

Peggy played the positions of third-base and catcher in softball after she and A.J. were married. She also enjoyed golf at South Suburban and Inverness. Peggy loved music and she loved to dance. Peggy and A.J. belonged to a dance club and always looked forward to dressing up fancy and going out dancing. Peggy loved the Denver Broncos and often joked that she had a red telephone that went straight to the head coach standing on the sidelines. She and A.J. were long-time season ticket holders since the Broncos inception. Home Broncos’ games were enjoyed with Mexican hotdogs and Wassail, a favorite hot drink she made. Peggy visited her sister in Ohio often or enjoyed Norma’s visits to Colorado. Days were spent reminiscing about their childhood and all the crazy things they did and the adventures they had including one time when they put a horse in a church, days spent watching movies at the Gothic Theatre in Englewood, and lying in the street many nights singing Ole Buttermilk Sky.

Peggy is survived by the love of her life, her husband of 64 years, A.J. Guanella; her cherished sister Norma Maximovich of Massillon, Ohio; her beloved children, Paul of Lafayette, Valorie (Michael) Erion of Silt, Angela of Lafayette and Lance of Denver. She is also survived by numerous beloved nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews in Ohio, Wyoming and Colorado. Additionally, she is survived by dear friends Joan Facchinello, Merilyn Handley, Glennyth Shepard, Carol Cox, members of the JayCees, and many, many more whose friendships she cherished over the years; and her beloved dogs, Annie and Jack. Peggy was predeceased by her parents, her dear sister Donna, and her dear friend Renie Lull.

A Catholic funeral service will be held Saturday, September 3rd at All Souls Catholic Parish in Englewood; Rosary at 10:00 a.m., Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. A private, family-only internment will be held at Chapel Hill Cemetery, following the conclusion of Mass. A Celebration of Life get together will be held in the near future, date to be announced. Please e-mail your name, phone number and address to [email protected] if you would like to receive an invitation to the Celebration of Life.

Peggy would want us to acknowledge LemLem, Elsa, Elsie, Robert, Ester, Lolita, Nabina, Lissie, Monique, Abigail, April, Diana, Jayanti, Jesse and Traci at Highline Place for their wonderful care during the final chapter of her life. Also, Chef Ross for the delicious food, thank you all so very much! She enjoyed each of you; you all have a very special gift of caring. Thank you to her Hospice team for their great care. An amazing thing to note about Peggy during this final and most difficult stage of her life… she always had a smile on her face, said “thank you”, and embodied a happy, positive spirit.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to a charity of your choice. Peggy was passionate about and loved to support the Buffalo Field Campaign, animal rescues or no-kill shelters, and arts organizations. In her memory she would love it, if you have room in your home and in your heart, if you adopted a homeless pet and gave it a loving, forever home. Visit a memory care facility and spend some time with those whose lives have been detoured by dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Smile and wave at your neighbor or a stranger on the street, help those who do not have enough to eat, stand up for the under-dog, and speak up if you see an injustice. Remember Peggy when you see the tulips blooming in the spring for they were her favorite flower.

Colorado, a poem by Peggy Guanella

Reach for the Stars

And oh, How you Can,

Standing on the Peaks

In This Rocky Mountain Land

We Love You Colorado,

With Your Beauty and Your Grace.

Mighty Mountains Standing

Cast a Joy Upon Your Face

No Place On Earth

Is the Sky More Blue

See Wild Mountain Flowers,

In Their Rainbow Hue.

God Has Been Here

It’s So Easy To Tell…

Who Else Could Color A Palette

For Colorado, So Well?