Elsa Delores Santillanes

Born March 7, 1924, in Jaroso died August 26, 2012, in the Veterans Nursing Home at Fitzsimmons, Denver, Colorado. Preceded in death by her beloved husband, Gilbert, granddaughter Taylor, brothers Urban Sanchez and Henry Sanchez, sister Carol Martin. She is survived by her sons, Eugene D. Montoya (Sharla) of Pueblo West, Colorado and Richard L. Montoya (Dianne) of Aubrey, Texas, her grandchildren Annette, Adrianna, Alec, Michelle, Elizabeth, and Reggie, her sisters Jennie Sanchez and Adeline Apodaca of Denver, Colorado, Dorothy Sandoval (Frank) of Thornton, Colorado, and her brother, Joseph Apodaca of Commerce City, Colorado. She was a devoted Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Aunt, Great Aunt and Friend. Over the course of her working life she was a street car conductor in San Francisco, an original “Rosie the Riveter” who worked as a welder on troop transports during World War II (receiving acknowledgement from the President of the Company for her 3 ½ year contributions to the war effort), and she enjoyed her work in the kitchen at Mount Carmel High School where she met many friends and acquaintances. She had a fondness for music (playing her father’s violin), dancing (especially leading the Corrida), and meeting people. She had a deep abiding Catholic faith fostered at Our Lady of Guadalupe. She manifested that faith by the respect, concern, and generosity she offered to everyone she met. Memories of her will always warm the hearts and bring smiles to the faces of all who knew her. She had special love and appreciation for her granddaughters and their families for the love, care, and comfort they gave her over many years, especially her final ones, Adrianna and Darren Mollendor, their daughter Kenna Gean, Annette and Stuart Wright, their son Jake. Today the angels in heaven sing in joyous celebration for another saint has joined them.