Beatrise "Bea" Elizabeth Carrillo

Bea was born in Brush, Colorado, the fifth of fifteen children born to Santos and Celsa Guzman. She grew up surrounded by the love and liveliness of a large family, a closeness that would shape the warmth she carried throughout her life.

She met the love of her life, Jose (Joe) Carrillo, when she was just 14 and he was 15. The two were married in 1960 and shared nearly 66 years of devoted marriage until her passing. Together, they built a life rooted in faith, family, and hard work.

Bea was an entrepreneur at heart. In her early married years, she ran her own housecleaning business, and in the early 1970s, she earned her cosmetology license. She opened her own salon in 1978 and ran her business until her retirement. Her work was never just about hair. Her clients, men and women from all walks of life, returned again and again not only for her skill as a master beautician but for the words of wisdom and insight she offered, always centered on Jesus. Even after retiring, her desire to serve never slowed. She studied to become a Certified Nursing Assistant and earned her CNA license in 2015.

What made Bea truly special was the love she had for Jesus. The joy that filled her heart poured out to everyone she met, and to her, nobody was ever a stranger. She was a consummate prayer warrior who dedicated a room in her home as a prayer room, where she would sit for hours in prayer, both alone and alongside others.

A devoted Catholic, Bea had a deep and abiding love for the Eucharist. She was a self-taught scripture scholar with a true gift of understanding and a remarkable way of explaining the faith that met each person right where they were in life. She served as an extraordinary Eucharistic minister and gave generously of her time for a wide variety of ministries at numerous churches, singing in both the Spanish and English choirs, helping with the high school youth program, bible studies, women’s groups, and even organizing cleaning crews to care for the church.

For Bea, there were never any denominational boundaries. Her heart for the poor, the outcast, and those in need was unmistakable. She volunteered on prayer phone banks for a local ministry, simply to pray with anyone who called. She would always be willing to talk with anyone about her faith and why she believed what she believed along with her love for the Catholic Church. She was a true evangelist, not only in what she said but in everything she did.

Bea is survived by her loving husband of nearly 66 years, Jose (Joe) Carrillo; her daughters, Theresa (Terrie) and her husband Rick, and Barbara (Barbie) and her husband Frank; her grandchildren, Angela, Ricardo, Natalia, Gianna, Frankie, and Audrianna; and her great-grandchildren, Benny, Victoria, Harper, Alianna, Benedict, Frankie John, Nicolette, Adeline, and Persephone.

She is also survived by her siblings, Marlene, Aurelia, Santos Jr., Virginia, Frank, Rose, Benjamin, and Gloria.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Santos and Celsa, and her siblings, Angie, Floyd, Florence, Nate, Bob, and Jenny.

Services will be held on Wednesday, June 17, at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 2650 Parish View, Colorado Springs, CO 80919. A viewing will begin at 12:30 PM, followed by the Rosary at 1:30 PM and the Funeral Mass at 2:00 PM, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church Youth Ministry.

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” Luke 1:46-47