Mary Louise Barba

Mary Louise Barba, born Dec. 25, 1928 in Sterling, Colo., died June 11, 2015, in her home in Denver surrounded by her eight children: Robert (Lita); Madeline (Alvin) Vallejos; Kenneth (Diane); Anthony; Gloria (Bob) Kendrick; Sharon Gallegos; Alan; and Patricia (Eli) Ruybal. She is preceded in death by her husband, Anthony; her parents Jovita and Feliciano Avila; brothers Russell and Alec Avila, sisters Dora Pacheco and Sara Morales.

She is survived by brothers Silvester (Edilia) Avila and Leo (Sandy) Gaitan, sisters Phyllis Wolkskill and Henrietta Lerma, and sister-in-law Bennie Avila. She is also survived by brother-in-law Pete (Billie) Barba and sisters-in-law Angie Benavidez, Margie Coon and Josie Velasquez.

Mary had 16 grandchildren, Robert Barba Jr., Brenda Smith, Tim Vallejos, Stacie Vallejos, Jason Barba, Kenneth Barba Jr, Jennifer Leyba, Jeremy Barba, Stephanie Barba, Michelle Nance, Jason Gallegos, Denise Smith, Jared Barba, Seth Barba, Milo Ruybal and Janelle Ruybal.

She also had 37 great-grandchildren (with one on the way), and five great-great grandkids. She is also survived by dozens of nieces and nephews.

Her life was her family. She loved when her family was together and often attended her grandkids sport and school functions. Her kids and grandkids were treated to homemade tortillas, the best beans you’ve ever had, rhubarb pies, red chile, chilaquiles, bread pudding on Good Friday and menudo on New Years Day. Long after she was unable to cook, she’d still offer you food quickly after arriving in her home. Prior to her arthritis, she also enjoyed crocheting blankets.

As a kid, Mary worked the fields of northeast Colorado with her family, even though she was terrified of bugs, spiders and snakes. She was also a lunch lady for Denver Public Schools.

Grandma loved to watch sports, including her beloved Broncos, Nuggets and Rockies. She also enjoyed watching wrestling and tennis.

A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. on June 16 at Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary. A funeral mass will be held on June 17 at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua. She will be interred at Crown Hill, next to her husband.