Evergreen Funeral Home: 719-475-8303 | Blunt Mortuary: 719-634-8831
Bom-Wrapper
In Memory of
Mary "Faye"
Renkel
Renkel
July 2nd, 1917 -
January 22nd, 2017
January 22nd, 2017
Obituary for Mary "Faye" Renkel
Obituary for Mary Faye Renkel written by daughter, Cynthia Renkel
Maria Eufemia Lovato (Mom) was born on July 2, 1917, in Tercio, CO, at the home of her grandparents, Macario and Inez (Abeyta) Duran. Although the place of birth on her birth certificate is given as Torres, CO, Mom is positive that she was born in Tercio, CO, where her grandparents lived. My Mom’s mother was Marie Encarnacion Duran (Granny) and her father was Jose Luis Lovato (Luis). She was baptized at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Trinidad, CO, on July 22, 1917. Her godparents were Juan Angel Duran and Maria Juana (Lopez) Duran.
From Mom’s recollection, the first place she lived was in Aguilar, CO, by Main Street in a building that was probably once a store. Her father, Luis, worked at the Broadhead Coal Mine. She lived there about four and a half years. The family then moved to Valdez where Luis worked at Frederick Coal Mine. The family lived in company housing, which was common at that time for people working in coal mines. Mom went to Valdez Elementary School until she finished the fourth grade. The family then moved to a 12-acre farm near Sarcillo, CO. This could also be known as Segundo. Luis still worked at the Frederick Coal Mine. He and Granny raised nine children there. Mom's siblings were Antonio Luis (Tony), Sixto, Inez Maria (Aggie), Erman or Armando (Herb), Maria Adelina (Adeline), Ernesto I. (Ernie), Cristella Trinidad (Chrissie), Candalaria (Clara) and Juanita Leonore (Jennie Lee). Mom was preceded in death by all her siblings with the exception of Chrissie.
Mom went to Sarcillo Grade School and graduated from the eighth grade on May 20, 1932. She then went to Primero High School at Segundo, CO. She graduated from Primero High School on May 16, 1936. As a teenager, she spent time at the Valdez YMCA, which had plays and programs. There were dances on Saturday nights at Ringo’s Dance Hall. In order to get to the dance hall, the teens generally had to walk about two miles. Their mother, Granny, would sometimes walk Mom and Aggie to the dance hall. Mom was allowed to date but first the date had to be interviewed by her father, Luis. She also had a curfew.
According to Mom, after she graduated from high school, she had to get a job. She applied for a job at Woolworth Five and Dime store. However, at that time there was racial prejudice against Hispanics, so she listed her last name as “Lavoda,” an Italian name. She got the job. Next, she went to Colorado Springs and worked as a domestic. As a domestic, she worked for the Gray family who lived on Wood Avenue in Colorado Springs. She learned how to cook from her mother, Granny, and from Mrs. Gray. She worked there for a few months. Mom then decided to go back home to Sarcillo. She had not planned to go to college, but her brother, Tony who was going to college, talked her into it. Plus, she had a scholarship from Primero High School. She went to Trinidad Junior College for one year, taking education and psychology classes. She was unable to attend college for a second year because she couldn’t afford it. She went back to Colorado Springs and worked for Mrs. Ira Waterman at the Broadmoor. Mom’s sister, Aggie, was working as a domestic for the Daniels family who owned the Daniel’s Furniture Store on North Tejon. On Sundays when there was nothing to do, they would dress up neat and high class and walk to the Broadmoor Hotel and go to the tavern and order ginger ale (they did not drink alcohol) and peanuts and sit and act like they were rich, although they were poor domestics. Mom had purchased a Palm Beach suit (a very classy brand at the time) at Fashion Bar. Mom’s next job was working for Thurston Davies, the president of Colorado College. This was better than a domestic’s job as the Davies entertained a lot. She helped serve guests. There was a possibility of Mom getting a grant from Colorado College with the help of Mr. Davies. That never happened because she met Russell Renkel (Dad), who turned out to be the love of her life.
Aggie and Mom were off on Thursdays and would go by bus to a restaurant on North Nevada Avenue to have “high tea.” One day these two guys came in; one was Larry (Blackie) and the other was Dad. Mom, who was raised poor but who didn’t want to appear poor, had a superiority complex. She figured Dad would be cheap, but she did notice that he was really built. Dad and Blackie went over and asked if they could sit with them and have a beer. The girls said, “yes, if you behave yourselves.” After the girls drank their tea and the guys drank their beer, they decided to go to the Garden of the Gods in Blackie’s car. They got to the Colorado Avenue Bridge and the car ran out of gas. Mom said, “what a likely story.” But Blackie and Dad said, no, that they had really run out of gas. When the guys came back with the gas, the four of them went to Manitou and the Garden of the Gods. Then the girls had to get a bus back to the Davies’ residence. At the time, Dad worked at a restaurant on Nevada Ave and lived in the YMCA. Dad would pick Mom up at the Davies’ for their dates and they would go to movies in Colorado Springs at the Rialto, Ute, Chief (Burns), and Tompkins theatres. Then Dad would walk Mom back to Colorado College. They had met in approximately September 1938 when football season was beginning at Colorado College. Dad went to the Colorado College football games, but he couldn’t afford to buy Mom a pompom corsage. Dad wanted to go steady, so for Valentine’s Day he bought a gold heart-shaped locket for Mom, who was still accepting other dates. Dad paid one dollar a week for fifty weeks to Hatch’s Jewelry for the locket. Dad started talking about getting married. Mom said her parents probably wouldn’t want her to marry him because he wasn’t a Catholic. He asked what he would have to do. So, Dad took instructions to become Catholic. Before they got married Dad wrote a letter to ask Mom’s father, asking if he would give her hand in marriage. Granny told Luis to answer the letter. Luis told Granny that if she was so anxious, she should answer it. Luis requested that Mom go home before she made any definite plans, so she did. This was during the Great Depression and Dad had to remain in Colorado Springs to work. Luis wanted to know something about Dad. Mom told him that Dad was the nicest and most decent guy she had ever met. Luis said, “there’s no man good enough for my daughter.” Luis finally gave his blessing, but Mom’s parents never even met Dad before the wedding.
Russell Renkel and Maria Eufemia Lovato got married on July 3, 1939, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Colorado Springs. Father Kelly wouldn’t marry them at the altar because Dad was not a Catholic yet. So, they were married inside the church rectory. Mom’s family could not travel to Colorado Springs to attend the wedding due to lack of money. Dad’s family, who were from New Jersey, did not attend. The witnesses were Joseph E. Duran and Valentina G. Duran, Mom’s aunt and uncle. Joseph Duran was Granny's brother. The bride changed her name from Maria Eufemia to Mary Faye when she was married.
After they were married, Dad and Mom lived in a furnished apartment on Boulder Street in Colorado Springs. In approximately October 1939, the newly-weds moved to Trinidad. All of their belongings were in their suitcases. There was no bus service from Trinidad to where they were living, so Granny asked neighbor to pick them up at the bus station.
Dad went to work at the Frederick Mine sometime before Christmas. He fixed up an extra bedroom at the Lovato family home and also fixed a chimney for the Lovato family living and dining rooms for heat. Mom and Dad lived there until 1942. First child Rusty (Russell William Renkel) was born on June 24, 1942, at Mt. San Rafael Hospital in Trinidad. Mom wanted to move back to Colorado Springs. When World War II broke out, there were jobs galore in Colorado Springs, so Dad moved back to Colorado Springs to work, leaving Mom with Baby Rusty in Trinidad. When Rusty was about a month old, he and Mom traveled by train to Colorado Springs. The first place the little family lived was the house at 1212 West Cucharras. By this time Granny had moved to Colorado Springs with her children, as this was the only chance for the children to get employment. Mom and Dad lived in the two rooms in the front of the house. The Renkel family then moved to 1508 W. Bijou, renting a small cottage. By that time Warren George Renkel (George) had been born (July 12, 1943).
Dad was drafted into the Army and served from April 27, 1945 – October 26, 1946. During the time that Dad was in the Army, Mom had to move from the cottage at 1508 W. Bijou. She moved with Rusty and Georgie to 101 W. 10th Street. Rusty and Georgie were able to walk with their dog, Dixie, to Granny’s house at 1212 West Cucharras.
The family then moved to Peterson Field. The war was over and the barracks at Peterson Field had been converted to family housing. Baby Boomers, Cynthia Fay (me, Cindi, June 3, 1949) and Virginia May (Ginni), November 12, 1953) were born during the time the family lived at Peterson Field. The family moved to 1329 S. 25th Street and lived there for about a year. Mom wanted to move into Colorado Springs so her girls could attend Catholic school. Granny lived with the family there. This was just a 2-bedroom house. The family moved into the house at 2130 W. Cucharras. Philip Martin (July 17, 1959) and Mary Lynne (November 20, 1963) were born while the family lived there.
In March 1968, Dad suffered a traumatic brain injury and almost died. This prompted Mom to return to school in 1970. She attended El Paso Community College, which is now Pikes Peak Community College. She received a certificate in Teacher Aide on June 5, 1971. She worked as a volunteer at Pikes Peak Community Action Program, as a volunteer at Head Start Program in Colorado Springs, as a substitute teacher aide at Sacred Heart School, and as a teacher aide at Talbot Elementary School. She worked for the City of Colorado Springs as a Summer Youth Employment counselor and supervisor for fourteen years. My mother was very proud of this accomplishment as she always wanted to be involved in the education field. She also really enjoyed this job, getting out and meeting people and having a sense of accomplishment.
In 1994, Mom went on a pilgrimage to Spain, Portugal and Morocco with her daughter, Ginni, son-in-law David, and grandson Davie as well as Chris Lovato. While in Fatima, Davie received his First Communion. This pilgrimage was organized by Father John Gibbons, a priest who knew the family from their years as members of Sacred Heart Church.
Mom, daughter Cynthia, Chris Lovato and Chrissie and Al Vallee had previously gone on a pilgrimage to Mexico City to see Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I can’t recall the year we did this.
Dad had passed away in 1993, so in March 1995, Mom decided to move to Parker, CO, to live with daughter Cynthia and granddaughter Melissa. Mom spent a lot of time with the family dog, Sasha, walking along the Cherry Creek Trail every day. She also spent time with Melissa after school and taught her such interesting sayings as, “I declare” and “once in a blue moon,” which Melissa’s teachers thought very funny. Some of the trips that the three ladies took were to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, Yellowstone Park, and Scottsdale, AZ. Mom lived in Parker for about 8 years.
In 2003, Mom decided to move back to Colorado Springs. She had lived there most of her life and missed being there and missed being able to see Pikes Peak. She went to visit her son Phil and then just decided to buy a condo at 411 Lakewood Circle. She was able to pay cash for this condo. Her sister-in-law, Chris Lovato, already lived there and they had always been close. Mom exercised six out of seven days a week in the exercise room. She also did volunteer work on Thursdays for Silver Key, a senior citizen organization. Mom celebrated her 90th birthday on July 8, 2007, at her condo with about 70 friends and relatives attending an open house in her honor.
Mom started needing more assistance with daily living so she moved to View Pointe Independent Living on Rockrimmon in Colorado Springs. But she got to the point where she needed even more assistance so she moved back to Parker to be near daughter Cynthia. She lived at Victorian House Assisted Living for almost 3 years until her death on January 22, 2017. She would tell me that the other residents there were too old for her. She was the oldest one there chronologically but still pretty young in spirit. She would also tell me that she was the only resident who would/could still read. She enjoyed reading the newspaper, books and she watched the news.
As stated above, Mom had six children, Russell William (Rusty), Warren George, Cynthia Fay (Cindi), Virginia May (Ginni), Philip Martin (Phil) and Mary Lynn. She was preceded in death by Rusty, George, Virginia and Mary Lynn. She was also preceded in death by her eldest grandson, Roy Renkel, son of Rusty and Mary Jane (Renkel) Wyatt. My mother never lost her faith in God even in view of the losses of her beloved husband, four of her six children and one grandson. This is surely a testament to her strength and faith in God.
My Mom had thirteen grandchildren: Roy Renkel, Lisa Amthor (Tim), Natalie Komp (Kevin), Judi Bernal, George E. Renkel, Julie Renkel, Shannon Bargas, Tim Collum (Ann), Melissa Renkel (Sam Lamer), David C. Lawrence, Philip Garcia, Kebrina Renkel and Coral Vialpando. She had twenty great-grandchildren: Randi Renkel, Vince Renkel, Angela Amthor, Bradley Amthor, Klint Komp, Justin Komp, Richie Lopez, Dezirae Bernal, Christopher Bernal, Lindsay Renkel, Orion Bargas, Cash Collum, Jack Collum, Maxim Lamer, Rylee Anne Renkel, Labrina Lucero, Sophia Raatz, Serena Weber, Lukas Weber, Draco Vialpando and Auzria Maestas-Vialpando. She had one great-great grandchild, Skylar Renkel.
My Mom has one remaining sibling, Chrissie Valle. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, too numerous to mention.
My mother lived a very humble life. She had a way of stretching what little money there was so that we always were fed, clothed and housed. She was satisfied with what she had. I asked her recently if she had any regrets, and she said, no, that she had lived a good life. She was proud of her love for her husband, for the care she had given her children and grandchildren, her ability to work for 14 years for the City of Colorado Springs, which gave her independence later in life. She had no regrets.
We will all miss her but at age 99 and a half she was ready to go to heaven. She would ask me, why won't God take me. I couldn't answer that question. She told me she had no unfinished business or any other reason to remain alive. God finally took my mother to heaven and ended her earthly suffering.
Maria Eufemia Lovato (Mom) was born on July 2, 1917, in Tercio, CO, at the home of her grandparents, Macario and Inez (Abeyta) Duran. Although the place of birth on her birth certificate is given as Torres, CO, Mom is positive that she was born in Tercio, CO, where her grandparents lived. My Mom’s mother was Marie Encarnacion Duran (Granny) and her father was Jose Luis Lovato (Luis). She was baptized at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Trinidad, CO, on July 22, 1917. Her godparents were Juan Angel Duran and Maria Juana (Lopez) Duran.
From Mom’s recollection, the first place she lived was in Aguilar, CO, by Main Street in a building that was probably once a store. Her father, Luis, worked at the Broadhead Coal Mine. She lived there about four and a half years. The family then moved to Valdez where Luis worked at Frederick Coal Mine. The family lived in company housing, which was common at that time for people working in coal mines. Mom went to Valdez Elementary School until she finished the fourth grade. The family then moved to a 12-acre farm near Sarcillo, CO. This could also be known as Segundo. Luis still worked at the Frederick Coal Mine. He and Granny raised nine children there. Mom's siblings were Antonio Luis (Tony), Sixto, Inez Maria (Aggie), Erman or Armando (Herb), Maria Adelina (Adeline), Ernesto I. (Ernie), Cristella Trinidad (Chrissie), Candalaria (Clara) and Juanita Leonore (Jennie Lee). Mom was preceded in death by all her siblings with the exception of Chrissie.
Mom went to Sarcillo Grade School and graduated from the eighth grade on May 20, 1932. She then went to Primero High School at Segundo, CO. She graduated from Primero High School on May 16, 1936. As a teenager, she spent time at the Valdez YMCA, which had plays and programs. There were dances on Saturday nights at Ringo’s Dance Hall. In order to get to the dance hall, the teens generally had to walk about two miles. Their mother, Granny, would sometimes walk Mom and Aggie to the dance hall. Mom was allowed to date but first the date had to be interviewed by her father, Luis. She also had a curfew.
According to Mom, after she graduated from high school, she had to get a job. She applied for a job at Woolworth Five and Dime store. However, at that time there was racial prejudice against Hispanics, so she listed her last name as “Lavoda,” an Italian name. She got the job. Next, she went to Colorado Springs and worked as a domestic. As a domestic, she worked for the Gray family who lived on Wood Avenue in Colorado Springs. She learned how to cook from her mother, Granny, and from Mrs. Gray. She worked there for a few months. Mom then decided to go back home to Sarcillo. She had not planned to go to college, but her brother, Tony who was going to college, talked her into it. Plus, she had a scholarship from Primero High School. She went to Trinidad Junior College for one year, taking education and psychology classes. She was unable to attend college for a second year because she couldn’t afford it. She went back to Colorado Springs and worked for Mrs. Ira Waterman at the Broadmoor. Mom’s sister, Aggie, was working as a domestic for the Daniels family who owned the Daniel’s Furniture Store on North Tejon. On Sundays when there was nothing to do, they would dress up neat and high class and walk to the Broadmoor Hotel and go to the tavern and order ginger ale (they did not drink alcohol) and peanuts and sit and act like they were rich, although they were poor domestics. Mom had purchased a Palm Beach suit (a very classy brand at the time) at Fashion Bar. Mom’s next job was working for Thurston Davies, the president of Colorado College. This was better than a domestic’s job as the Davies entertained a lot. She helped serve guests. There was a possibility of Mom getting a grant from Colorado College with the help of Mr. Davies. That never happened because she met Russell Renkel (Dad), who turned out to be the love of her life.
Aggie and Mom were off on Thursdays and would go by bus to a restaurant on North Nevada Avenue to have “high tea.” One day these two guys came in; one was Larry (Blackie) and the other was Dad. Mom, who was raised poor but who didn’t want to appear poor, had a superiority complex. She figured Dad would be cheap, but she did notice that he was really built. Dad and Blackie went over and asked if they could sit with them and have a beer. The girls said, “yes, if you behave yourselves.” After the girls drank their tea and the guys drank their beer, they decided to go to the Garden of the Gods in Blackie’s car. They got to the Colorado Avenue Bridge and the car ran out of gas. Mom said, “what a likely story.” But Blackie and Dad said, no, that they had really run out of gas. When the guys came back with the gas, the four of them went to Manitou and the Garden of the Gods. Then the girls had to get a bus back to the Davies’ residence. At the time, Dad worked at a restaurant on Nevada Ave and lived in the YMCA. Dad would pick Mom up at the Davies’ for their dates and they would go to movies in Colorado Springs at the Rialto, Ute, Chief (Burns), and Tompkins theatres. Then Dad would walk Mom back to Colorado College. They had met in approximately September 1938 when football season was beginning at Colorado College. Dad went to the Colorado College football games, but he couldn’t afford to buy Mom a pompom corsage. Dad wanted to go steady, so for Valentine’s Day he bought a gold heart-shaped locket for Mom, who was still accepting other dates. Dad paid one dollar a week for fifty weeks to Hatch’s Jewelry for the locket. Dad started talking about getting married. Mom said her parents probably wouldn’t want her to marry him because he wasn’t a Catholic. He asked what he would have to do. So, Dad took instructions to become Catholic. Before they got married Dad wrote a letter to ask Mom’s father, asking if he would give her hand in marriage. Granny told Luis to answer the letter. Luis told Granny that if she was so anxious, she should answer it. Luis requested that Mom go home before she made any definite plans, so she did. This was during the Great Depression and Dad had to remain in Colorado Springs to work. Luis wanted to know something about Dad. Mom told him that Dad was the nicest and most decent guy she had ever met. Luis said, “there’s no man good enough for my daughter.” Luis finally gave his blessing, but Mom’s parents never even met Dad before the wedding.
Russell Renkel and Maria Eufemia Lovato got married on July 3, 1939, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Colorado Springs. Father Kelly wouldn’t marry them at the altar because Dad was not a Catholic yet. So, they were married inside the church rectory. Mom’s family could not travel to Colorado Springs to attend the wedding due to lack of money. Dad’s family, who were from New Jersey, did not attend. The witnesses were Joseph E. Duran and Valentina G. Duran, Mom’s aunt and uncle. Joseph Duran was Granny's brother. The bride changed her name from Maria Eufemia to Mary Faye when she was married.
After they were married, Dad and Mom lived in a furnished apartment on Boulder Street in Colorado Springs. In approximately October 1939, the newly-weds moved to Trinidad. All of their belongings were in their suitcases. There was no bus service from Trinidad to where they were living, so Granny asked neighbor to pick them up at the bus station.
Dad went to work at the Frederick Mine sometime before Christmas. He fixed up an extra bedroom at the Lovato family home and also fixed a chimney for the Lovato family living and dining rooms for heat. Mom and Dad lived there until 1942. First child Rusty (Russell William Renkel) was born on June 24, 1942, at Mt. San Rafael Hospital in Trinidad. Mom wanted to move back to Colorado Springs. When World War II broke out, there were jobs galore in Colorado Springs, so Dad moved back to Colorado Springs to work, leaving Mom with Baby Rusty in Trinidad. When Rusty was about a month old, he and Mom traveled by train to Colorado Springs. The first place the little family lived was the house at 1212 West Cucharras. By this time Granny had moved to Colorado Springs with her children, as this was the only chance for the children to get employment. Mom and Dad lived in the two rooms in the front of the house. The Renkel family then moved to 1508 W. Bijou, renting a small cottage. By that time Warren George Renkel (George) had been born (July 12, 1943).
Dad was drafted into the Army and served from April 27, 1945 – October 26, 1946. During the time that Dad was in the Army, Mom had to move from the cottage at 1508 W. Bijou. She moved with Rusty and Georgie to 101 W. 10th Street. Rusty and Georgie were able to walk with their dog, Dixie, to Granny’s house at 1212 West Cucharras.
The family then moved to Peterson Field. The war was over and the barracks at Peterson Field had been converted to family housing. Baby Boomers, Cynthia Fay (me, Cindi, June 3, 1949) and Virginia May (Ginni), November 12, 1953) were born during the time the family lived at Peterson Field. The family moved to 1329 S. 25th Street and lived there for about a year. Mom wanted to move into Colorado Springs so her girls could attend Catholic school. Granny lived with the family there. This was just a 2-bedroom house. The family moved into the house at 2130 W. Cucharras. Philip Martin (July 17, 1959) and Mary Lynne (November 20, 1963) were born while the family lived there.
In March 1968, Dad suffered a traumatic brain injury and almost died. This prompted Mom to return to school in 1970. She attended El Paso Community College, which is now Pikes Peak Community College. She received a certificate in Teacher Aide on June 5, 1971. She worked as a volunteer at Pikes Peak Community Action Program, as a volunteer at Head Start Program in Colorado Springs, as a substitute teacher aide at Sacred Heart School, and as a teacher aide at Talbot Elementary School. She worked for the City of Colorado Springs as a Summer Youth Employment counselor and supervisor for fourteen years. My mother was very proud of this accomplishment as she always wanted to be involved in the education field. She also really enjoyed this job, getting out and meeting people and having a sense of accomplishment.
In 1994, Mom went on a pilgrimage to Spain, Portugal and Morocco with her daughter, Ginni, son-in-law David, and grandson Davie as well as Chris Lovato. While in Fatima, Davie received his First Communion. This pilgrimage was organized by Father John Gibbons, a priest who knew the family from their years as members of Sacred Heart Church.
Mom, daughter Cynthia, Chris Lovato and Chrissie and Al Vallee had previously gone on a pilgrimage to Mexico City to see Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I can’t recall the year we did this.
Dad had passed away in 1993, so in March 1995, Mom decided to move to Parker, CO, to live with daughter Cynthia and granddaughter Melissa. Mom spent a lot of time with the family dog, Sasha, walking along the Cherry Creek Trail every day. She also spent time with Melissa after school and taught her such interesting sayings as, “I declare” and “once in a blue moon,” which Melissa’s teachers thought very funny. Some of the trips that the three ladies took were to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, Yellowstone Park, and Scottsdale, AZ. Mom lived in Parker for about 8 years.
In 2003, Mom decided to move back to Colorado Springs. She had lived there most of her life and missed being there and missed being able to see Pikes Peak. She went to visit her son Phil and then just decided to buy a condo at 411 Lakewood Circle. She was able to pay cash for this condo. Her sister-in-law, Chris Lovato, already lived there and they had always been close. Mom exercised six out of seven days a week in the exercise room. She also did volunteer work on Thursdays for Silver Key, a senior citizen organization. Mom celebrated her 90th birthday on July 8, 2007, at her condo with about 70 friends and relatives attending an open house in her honor.
Mom started needing more assistance with daily living so she moved to View Pointe Independent Living on Rockrimmon in Colorado Springs. But she got to the point where she needed even more assistance so she moved back to Parker to be near daughter Cynthia. She lived at Victorian House Assisted Living for almost 3 years until her death on January 22, 2017. She would tell me that the other residents there were too old for her. She was the oldest one there chronologically but still pretty young in spirit. She would also tell me that she was the only resident who would/could still read. She enjoyed reading the newspaper, books and she watched the news.
As stated above, Mom had six children, Russell William (Rusty), Warren George, Cynthia Fay (Cindi), Virginia May (Ginni), Philip Martin (Phil) and Mary Lynn. She was preceded in death by Rusty, George, Virginia and Mary Lynn. She was also preceded in death by her eldest grandson, Roy Renkel, son of Rusty and Mary Jane (Renkel) Wyatt. My mother never lost her faith in God even in view of the losses of her beloved husband, four of her six children and one grandson. This is surely a testament to her strength and faith in God.
My Mom had thirteen grandchildren: Roy Renkel, Lisa Amthor (Tim), Natalie Komp (Kevin), Judi Bernal, George E. Renkel, Julie Renkel, Shannon Bargas, Tim Collum (Ann), Melissa Renkel (Sam Lamer), David C. Lawrence, Philip Garcia, Kebrina Renkel and Coral Vialpando. She had twenty great-grandchildren: Randi Renkel, Vince Renkel, Angela Amthor, Bradley Amthor, Klint Komp, Justin Komp, Richie Lopez, Dezirae Bernal, Christopher Bernal, Lindsay Renkel, Orion Bargas, Cash Collum, Jack Collum, Maxim Lamer, Rylee Anne Renkel, Labrina Lucero, Sophia Raatz, Serena Weber, Lukas Weber, Draco Vialpando and Auzria Maestas-Vialpando. She had one great-great grandchild, Skylar Renkel.
My Mom has one remaining sibling, Chrissie Valle. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, too numerous to mention.
My mother lived a very humble life. She had a way of stretching what little money there was so that we always were fed, clothed and housed. She was satisfied with what she had. I asked her recently if she had any regrets, and she said, no, that she had lived a good life. She was proud of her love for her husband, for the care she had given her children and grandchildren, her ability to work for 14 years for the City of Colorado Springs, which gave her independence later in life. She had no regrets.
We will all miss her but at age 99 and a half she was ready to go to heaven. She would ask me, why won't God take me. I couldn't answer that question. She told me she had no unfinished business or any other reason to remain alive. God finally took my mother to heaven and ended her earthly suffering.
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