Tomasita R. Suarez

Funeral services will be held at Holy Family Parish, 2827 Lakeview Ave, Pueblo, CO on 12/14/2016 at 11:00. Burial will follow at Imperial Memorial Gardens, 5450 CO-78, Pueblo, CO. Viewing and rosary will be held at Holy Family Parish on 12/13/2016; viewing from 5:00-6:00pm, followed by the rosary at 6:00pm. Imperial Funeral Home will be handling the funeral arrangements.

Tomasita was born November 3, 1928 in Sevilleta de la La Joya, New Mexico to Tomas and Julianita (Carrillo) Romero. Tomas passed away shortly after “Tomie’s” birth. Julianita then married Jose Padilla, who had lost his wife, Natividad. The 6 Romero children joined the 6 Padilla children, who then welcomed 4 additional siblings. Tomie and her 15 siblings grew up, worked, and attended school on the Padilla Ranch in Priest Canyon, New Mexico. The family moved to Brush, Colorado in 1947.

Tomasita met her husband Gerardo (Harold) Suarez of Iliff, CO, in 1948 and married him on April 22,1949. Harold passed away at home on November 5, 1990. Tomie and Harold, spent 41 years together. They began their married life living in Iliff, Co and then moved to Ordville, Nebraska. During this time, Harold worked at Sioux Ordinance Depot while Tomie spent her days caring for their 11 children. December 1966, Harold moved Tomie and the children to Pueblo, Colorado and welcomed two more children into their home. Tomie was a devoted wife and mother of 13 children who attended South High School. She also worked at various jobs in Pueblo. She especially enjoyed her duties as a cook feeding children at Sacred Heart Orphanage, and the elderly at Life Care Center.

Tomie was an ardent sports fan. She attended professional games around the country, particularly the New York Yankees and was a Denver Bronco fan. Memorabilia of NYY Derek Jetters and the Bronco’s Patton Manning is displayed in her dedicated sports watching and memorabilia TV room. Tomie enjoyed playing sports and later watching all sports, particularly watching her children or grandchildren when they played in recreation leagues or for South High School. She also had her own fantasy football team “South Colt Mama” in which she won the championship once and placed in the money a few times.

During her retirement Tomie enjoyed cooking, gardening, music, dancing, playing (winning) poker, horseshoes, softball, with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and traveling the world. Her sweet breads and cookies were family favorites. A few of her children and grandchildren danced in Mexican folklorio groups which she supported by making tamales to sell and attending their events and parades. She also loved animals and the sights, sounds, and smells of the country. Tomie rode horses for many years and was devoted to her dog, Maximus.

Tomasita is survived by her 6 sons and 7 daughters. Gerardo Jr.(Marilyn) Suarez of Colorado Springs, CO. Raymond Suarez of Oakland, CA, Arthur Suarez, of San Francisco, CA, Orlando Suarez, of Pueblo, CO, Anthony (Elizabeth) Suarez of Pueblo, CO, and Julian (Martina) Suarez of Louisville, CO., Christina Suarez of Lafayette, CO, Sylvia (Dane) Kopasz of Bellvue, CO, Rose (Dane) Macalister of Fort Collins, CO, Victoria (Rick) Barham of Westminster, Lisa (Jacek) Tadus of Ancaster Canada, Angela (Mario) Echevarria of Longmont, CO, and Monica (Bryan) Serena of Pueblo, CO. Tomasita was blessed with 21 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

Tomasita is also survived by her siblings, Estella (Sebero) Blea of Colorado Springs, CO, Eduardo Padilla of Denver, CO, and Sally (John) Bortz of Denver, CO., her in-laws, Mary Orneles of Bakersfield, CA, Ysidro “Isadore” (Frances) Suarez of Bakersfield, CA, Margarete Guzman of Ft. Collins, CO, Virginia Negrete of Longmont, CO, Bob Suarez of Iliff, CO, Anna (Luis)Torres of Denver, CO, Helen (Al) Martinez of Westminster, CO, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Tomasita is preceded in death by her husband, Gerardo Suarez, her father Tomas Romero, her parents, Julianita and Jose Padilla, Her siblings, David Romero, Vitalia Sanchez, Alfredo Romero, Alejandro Romero, Eleo Romero, Brigida Sanchez, Cipriana Montoya, Virginia Bibiano, Antonia Sisneros, Gavino Padilla, Melecio Padilla, Juan Padilla, and her in-laws, Augustina Martinez, Paulina Trujillo, Hilario Suarez, Irene Miranda, Josephine Sandoval, .

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Pueblo South High School Alumni Foundation, memo with “Suarez Gym Project”, PO Box 1065, Pueblo, CO 81002. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Molly and Aneisha at Sangre de Cristo Hospice.