Cristeta Palmes Penuela

A beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Mrs. Cristeta P. Penuela, 93 years young, passed away peacefully on August 1, 2026, in Colorado Springs, CO. Cristeta (Cris) was born on June 29, 1933, in Asisig-Passi, Iloilo City, Philippines. Her parents, Dominador (dec) and Oliva (dec) Palmes, named her after the “sacrifices Jesus passed through” while he walked this earth. The family had a small tobacco farm that did not generate a steady income. Her parents each came from meager means and were orphaned young. She later wrote, “when I was born, my parents were unprepared, My dad took out the covers from an umbrella, and my mom made my newborn clothes out of it. I was born inside the house- no doctor or midwife.” It was life on this farm that laid the very foundation of her strong faith, work ethic, dedication to family, and the connection to greater society. She had an insatiable curiosity for life.

She married her devoted husband, SGT. Teodoro S. Penuela (dec) in 1959, after only knowing each other for two weeks- it was a love story made for the big screen. Together they built a life strong in faith. She is survived by their four daughters: Mary Jean (Rick) Penuela (-Wermers), Linda (Matthew) Strand, Mary Rosario Penuela, and Mary May (William) Penuela-Takamatsu-Thompson. Her grandchildren are Sarah Penuela-Wermers, Evan (Kira), Emily and Eddie Strand, and Teodoro Penuela-Takamatsu-Thompson. Her siblings are Carmelina Juanico, Myrna (Oscar) Taton, Rolando (Narissa) Penuela, Ana (Danny) Pedroso, and Carlos Palmes. Plus, let’s not forget the many beloved nieces and nephews. The following siblings preceded her death: Virgilita Gadian, Romulo Palmes, Manuel Palmes, Salvador Palmes, and Ma Elsa Guintebano.

Cris loved to garden, able to grow seeds even in the poorest of conditions. Her other passions included sewing, crocheting, cooking, and reading. She read constantly, never shying away from truth and knowledge. She welcomed all into her home, especially to cook her specialty, lumpia! She and her husband had a friendly competition of whose dishes were the best. They complemented each other, as they each had their own specialty. Her strong work ethic and love of service were evident in her work life: at Ft. Carson, a stint at the Schlage Factory when the family first moved to Pueblo when her husband fist retired from active duty. Then, she discovered her true vocation when she began work as a CNA at Four Seasons, a memory care unit at Highland Park Nursing Home. She worked there for 13 years. Despite the physical demands of the job and her petite size, she truly enjoyed interacting with her patients, their families and colleagues, considering it a blessing. Her quick problem-solving skills and wit, patience and kindness were her superpowers. She was recognized as “Employee of the Month” on multiple occasions. Upon retiring for health reasons, she kept busy and fit by gathering and pursuing new hobbies, on top of her many already existing interests. She visited her children who lived out of state. Her sense of adventure was boundless, not as a tourist, but in exploring as a local.

Those who knew her speak of her kindness, her grace, and compassion. She lifted a person’s potential and dignity. Her and her family’s integrity meant everything. Faith-filled and faithful, her devotion to the blessed Virgin Mary sustained the darkest moments and she was not afraid to show vulnerability. She overcame many of her fears. “I loved life”. She adapted and pivoted when needed and was always resourceful. She approached problem solving as an out of the box thinker, sought peace through diplomacy, cooperation and collaboration, and solidarity.

She will be remembered with fondness for her quiet resolve, resiliency, strength. Her physical presence will be greatly missed, but her spirit lives on. The baton is passed to those of us who remember her legacy.

The family thanks all those who supported our Nanay, especially those through prayer. Thank you to her devoted friends, doctors, especially Dr. Sena, the care teams at the Bridge, Life Care Center, Memorial Hospital, Compassus Hospice, and National Jewish Health Systems). Thank you to Swan-Law for taking care of her body so lovingly. We thank Father Kenney Joe and the Blessed Sacrament Community of Pueblo, St. Mary’s Help of Christians Church for guiding us through this journey. She is truly blessed.

Please consider making a donation in her honor to the following organizations: National Jewish Health, Lupus.org, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and Catholic Diocese of Pueblo.

A Rosary will be held at St. Mary Help of Christians Church, 307 E Mesa Ave, Pueblo, CO 81006, US, on August 10, 2026, from 9:30 am to 10:00 am, followed by a Funeral Mass at the same location from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, and a Reception there from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm.

Burial will take place at Pikes Peak National Cemetery, 10545 Drennan Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80925, USA, on August 10, 2026, at 2:00 pm.