Lucy Marie Varela

Lucy Varela, 73, died April 6, 2015, following a short illness. She was born in Nambe, New Mexico on March 15, 1942 to Romanita Ortiz and Antonio Gardunio. She moved with her family to Salida, Colorado in the 1950’s were she attended school.

Ms. Varela worked as a nurse’s aide at the Salida Hospital and waitresses at several local restaurants. Ms. Varela moved to Denver in the seventies and worked at Samsonite till her retirement. She then worked at the Lodge Casino until the late 1990s.

Ms. Varela was preceded in death by her parents, her step father Max Perea, brothers Gilbert and David, sisters Fermina Valdez and Dolores Valerio, her step siblings Jeannie Mestas and Felix Perea. She is survived by her husband Gil Varela, daughter Monica (Arnulfo) Banuelos, brothers Roy (Isabelle), Joe, Amos (Connie) and Manuel (Wilma) Gardunio and sister Elisa Gonzales, brother in law Steve Valerio and several nephews and nieces.

Ms. Varela loved going to Black Hawk and Central City to play the slots. She was an avid reader, and was known for her fun approach to life. She was young at heart and her family will always remember her fun loving spirit and feistiness’.