Vicky Susan Villani Wathan

Vicky S. Villani Wathan, 69, passed away June 14, 2107 at Hope West Hospice Care Center in Grand Junction, CO. She was born in Longmont, Colorado in 1948; the first child of Della and Buster Villani. She lived in Longmont for the first several years of her life until the family moved to Gallup New Mexico. Vicky grew up in Gallup and graduated from Gallup High School in 1966 and attended the University of New Mexico, graduating with a degree in elementary education. She returned to Gallup and taught junior high school, until she moved to Las Vegas Nevada to obtain her master's degree from UNLV. Vicky taught in the Clark County School District in Las Vegas for over 20 years.While she was working towards her master's degree she held several jobs in Las Vegas, including working as a police dispatcher and it was thru this job that Vicky met Rick Wathan, the love of her life. Vicky and Rick were together for 28 years and planned to retire to Grand Junction, Colorado. Vicky was in her final year of teaching when she was diagnosed with stage IV cancer in December 2016. She was very brave and strong in her faith through every step of her illness. Vicki loved animals and was happiest when she was taking in and caring for a stray dog or cat. She loved to read, cook, sew and laugh. Vicky is survived by her Husband Rick, her brother Tony and his wife Denise, her cousins, Diane, Mark, Sharon and Doug. Vicky was the also the very proud Aunt of Tony's two daughters Jennifer and Mary.Visitation will be from Monday June 19, 2017 from 4:00 to 6:00pm, with Vigil/Rosary at 6:00pm at the Ahlberg Funeral Chapel. Mass of the Resurrection will be at 10:00am Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church. Interment at Foothills Gardens of Memory. Visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to share condolences.