Marianne Cardinal

Marianne (Pettit) Cardinal, student, teacher, traveler, dancer, weaver, gourd artist, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and wonderful friend passed away from natural causes on January 15, 2024. Marianne greeted everyone with a radiant smile every day of her life and will be very much missed and always remembered by those who loved her. Marianne cared for those less fortunate and was a supporter of many social causes, so it was fitting for her passing to occur on Martin Luther King Day.

Marianne was born in Pueblo, Colorado on April 12, 1934, to Henry and Anna Lee Pettit, the second of four children and the only daughter. She attended St. Patrick’s school and Pueblo Catholic High. She attended college at Loretto Heights and graduated from Northern Colorado Teachers College in Greely. During and after college she had the opportunity to travel to Europe, Mexico City, and dance at Jacob’s Pillow in western Massachusetts. She returned to Pueblo and taught English and Journalism at Risley Junior High School and opened a dance studio in the basement of her parent’s Van Buren Avenue home where she taught ballet, jazz, and tap dancing.

Marianne met Dave Cardinal at Patti’s Drive-In, a local hang out where Dave introduced himself as one of Pueblo’s most eligible bachelors. Marianne was not initially impressed but after a brief courtship Dave proposed on Valentine’s Day and they were married on August 19, 1961. They had seven children including two sets of twins. The family went on many trips and enjoyed time in their many cabins in Beulah, Crested Butte and later in Cuchara, CO with the food and logistics all organized by Marianne. Marianne and Dave, with the help of both grandmothers as babysitters, also traveled extensively to many wonderful places all over the world. Marianne was a loving and caring mother to her seven children and was ahead of her time, sewing her children’s clothes, nursing all her children, raising and canning her own vegetables. Every Friday afternoon in the winter months they would load up the kids in a big yellow van and head to their ski cabin in Crested Butte. It was pizza night in the van ride to the cabin. And a half a cup of Pepsi and popcorn only on Friday nights! Marianne raised Yorkshire Terriers and the cute little furry puppies could be found running around the house. She was a member of the Junior League, danced in community productions, volunteered at the local soup kitchen, and the day nursery.

When her children were older, she took on new creative pursuits and enrolled in weaving classes and eventually began to teach others, including classes for Pueblo school children. She was a proud member of the Pueblo Handweavers Guild helping organize many events. Later she took up the craft of gourd artisanry and her many beautiful creations decorate the homes of family and friends. Many of her weavings and gourds could be found in various Pueblo galleries and shops. She and Dave enjoyed many years of travel and time with their seven adult children and eleven grandchildren. Marianne and Dave moved to Lafayette in 2015 to be closer to family and made many new friends in their Indian Peaks Community. Every winter they would drive to their second home of 27 years in Litchfield Park, AZ to enjoy the sun, art shows, and to pursue Marianne’s gourd and weaving work. They celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in August 2023 surrounded by family and friends.

Marianne was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Anna Lee Pettit, brother Hank Pettit, son-in-law Christopher Faughnan, and daughter-in-law Betty Yuan-Cardinal. She is survived by her husband, David Cardinal, her children, Marla (Michael) DeRosa, Cathy (Dave Green) Faughnan, Patricia (Ridge) Robinson, Paul (Gail) Cardinal, Julie (Chuck Herring) Cardinal, Daniel Cardinal, and Doug Cardinal; her grandchildren, Lauren DeRosa, Rosa DeRosa, Siena Faughnan, Juliet Faughnan, Liam Faughnan, Ben Robinson, Thomas Robinson, Michael Cardinal, Kenneth Wilson, Abigail Wilson, Jasper Cardinal; and siblings, Joseph (Mary) Pettit and Jim (Jane Greenfield) Pettit.

Marianne lived a full and beautiful life raising her children and being the best companion to Dave. She was a champion for those less fortunate, a forward thinker, and an amazing artist. She had the brightest smile, the biggest heart and a kind word for all. She will be truly missed.

In Lieu of flowers please direct contributions to the Cardinal Family Scholarship Fund https://www.coloradogives.org/donate/PuebloCommunityCollegeFoundation (Pueblo Community College Foundation, 900 W. Orman Avenue, Pueblo, CO 81004

(719) 544-0677) or Posada of Pueblo whose mission is providing housing and supportive service that empower homeless individuals and families in Pueblo County to become self-supporting members of the community. https://posadapueblo.org/donate/

Please join the family for services and a celebration of her life at Saint Joseph Parish, 1145 South Aspen Road, Pueblo, CO 81004 at 10:45 am on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024.

There will be a second Celebration of Life at 95A Bistro on January 25th, 2024 from 4:30 pm to 7 pm. Located at 1381 Forest Park Circle in Lafayette, Colorado 80026.