Kathleen Salgado-Trejo

June 1, 1963 – January 4, 2015

On June 1, 1963 the world stopped for just an instant and took on Kathleen Trujillo, delivered to Manual Trujillo her father and Alma “Toni” Trujillo her loving and accepting mother. She went home to meet three siblings Joseph, Darlene and Louis. Kathy was a bouncing, bubbly, babbling, bundle of joy and throughout her life these characteristics remained her calling card to the world. She was a fun, happy and loving person to all she met and she knew no one as a stranger. Once she wrapped you around her hold of happiness you remained always in her heart. On January 4, 2015 the world once more stopped for just an instant and gently delivered Kathy back to God for his care and love for eternity. We are saddened by her leaving us but for the 51 years she was with us, she provided us with the most incredible and loving example of a person one could ever hope to meet.

Kathy left behind all those who were blessed to know her, as well as her legacy of two beautiful and loving daughters Antoinette and Brianna. Each will carry on a part of their mothers love and bountiful joyfulness as well as the spirit of giving and accepting all - despite status, looks, or actions. It is a lesson we all can profit from and hopefully “pay it forward” as well, in Kathy’s memory.

Her love of children was unlimited and the inclusive care she gave to her grandchildren Nadine, Nevaeh, and Sammy was a sight to behold and she will be also be missed by Lupe whom she provided day care for as well. Antoinette will always laugh at the memory of she and her mother when they worked together in the donut shop. Making time for a special together activity after a long day of donut making, when they would stop in at “The Looking Good” and have a few toddies for the body in a bond only a mother and daughter can share. They worked hard, played together in happiness and loved each other with no bounds.

Brianna, who often challenged her mom but always, felt the strength of love they held for each other were more alike than different. As evidenced by when Brianna came home with her first tattoo which was quite upsetting to her mom, until she found out that the tattoo was a tribute to her. Oh, Brianna, even in something that could have been a source of conflict, you knew exactly how to draw your mother in as she did for you. And as you so beautifully stated, “Uncle, she never gave up on me” and I am sure Brianna that you will never buy another pair of shoes without thinking of how your mom’s tradition was to buy matching shoes for the two of you.

Kathy gave love freely and equally accepted a loving relationship with her querido Alberto. Many often wondered how they communicated with her “mocho” Spanish and his limited English. Their “talk” however was not based on words but on actions of how they showed love and respect for each other. Alberto, you gave Kathy the gift of what a true man is about- care and love without limits. I know that your heart is hurting but you also revealed to me that the love you had for Kathy will live on in your heart forever.

(Kathy dio amor libremente e igualmente aceptó una relación amorosa con su querido Alberto. Muchas veces se preguntó cómo se comunicaban con ella "mocho" española y su limitada Inglés. Su "hablar" sin embargo, no se basa en las palabras sino en acciones de la forma en que demostraron amor y respeto por los demás. Alberto, te dio Kathy el don de lo que es un verdadero hombre es el cuidado de sobre- y amor sin límites. Sé que su corazón está doliendo pero también reveló que el amor que tenía para Kathy vivirá en su corazón para siempre.)

Each of us will have special memories of our time with Kathy and like me I will always expect her to come bounding into a room with that smile that lit us all up and her cheery attitude that always made us feel better. I will remember taking her to her first Bronco game and the fun we had enjoying the game, eating junk food and drinking beer and later to have her post proudly that day on her Facebook account for all to see.

Most recently just before Christmas I got a call from Kathy and she said Uncle come over “It isn’t an emergency this time” my mom and I want to give you and Auntie Pat something. When I got there she and Toni proudly gave me four empanadas which they had just made with major assistance from Darlene. Then she proclaimed that she was going to make this a tradition and we all could get together including Auntie Irene and Auntie Cleo next year and make even more empanadas. Well sweet Kathy you may not be there physically next year but I hope that the rest of us who are left and what the heck whoever else wants to join in let’s make it a tradition and make empanadas next year! That’s just the way Kathy was, tradition based and family oriented.

Kathy’s name means “pure” in Greek and she indeed was pure in her heart, her joy of life, her love and her friendships. I remember once when coming back from a hard nights work she happened to meet a woman stranded in Black Hawk after having lost even her bus money home. Kathy paid for the strangers bus fare and shared her dinner with her. On another occasion one of the customers she happened to get to know during the course of her work as a security person was so touched by how friendly and helpful Kathy was that she made her an afghan as a gift of gratitude. It was also not forgetting to visit her dear friend Lorraine who is struggling with her own health issues. This was classic Kathy - always there for anybody who needed help.

And how can it ever be measured as to the unselfish manner Kathy gave to her own mother Toni. Both taking on a world that sometimes was so tasking but always having the resolve that they could get through anything together and they did. With Antoinette’s extreme generosity of sharing a small two bedroom apartment they all shared a dream of having a bigger place for convenience sake but secure in the knowledge that it didn’t matter where they were, what was more important was whom they were with.

That is the strength and core of this family, maybe they don’t have a lot of things but what they have is what is most important in the end – the love and support of family. This notion of family bonding so vivid through Kathy’s life is emphasized by her dear brother Louis. He reminds all of us especially the children to take advantage of a mother’s love and hold dear the value of what true family unity means. We are one with each other.

So as we take our turn in the lives we lead, grasp always for what makes you happy and whole and sing it to the world. Just as Kathy would unabashedly belt out a Patsy Cline tune at Karaoke or win first prize in dancing the Electric Slide – to the sheer delight of her sister Darleen, let us live each day as though it is your last and never have regrets for singing out of tune or even stepping on someone’s toes in the dance of life. Let’s all take a page from how Kathy lived and maybe we can answer the question to one of her favorite Patsy Cline tunes:

I fall to pieces

each time I see you again

I fall to pieces

how can I be just your friend?

The answer my friends is to live the spirit of Kathy Trujillo and the rest of the pieces will all fall into place. God love you all on behalf of the family of Kathy Trujillo and may the knowledge of the grace of eternal peace comfort us all.

Eulogy prepared and delivered by:

Richard Baca, Uncle to Kathy Trujillo

January 8, 2015