Ana Maria Ramirez

Pueblo, CO — Ana Maria Ramirez, 96, peacefully passed away at our home in Fort Collins on Saturday, December 21, 2024, under the loving care of her sons Rick and Frank (Karen) after a gradual decline in health. She was a woman of deep faith who gave daily thanks for the many blessings in her life. She loved nature, developing a deep affection for birds, flowers, animals, and song—passions she nurtured and shared generously with everyone she met, enriching their lives with her kind heart and gentle presence. We are grateful that Mamá’s final years were free of pain, comfortable, joyful, eventful, peaceful, filled with gratitude, and marked by frequent laughter, smiles, great meals, lots of cookies, chocolate, bubbly drinks, kisses, and thousands of songs. She was preceded in death by the untimely losses of her beloved husband Frank, after only 16 years of marriage, and her daughter Diane at age 44. She is survived by her loving sons Frank (Karen) and Rick; her eight grandchildren: Richard, Ryan (Kari), Kimberly, Kaitlin, Bennett, Frankie, Luke, and Coleon; her great-granddaughter Adelaide and great-grandson Finneas; sister-in-law Beatriz Arizaga; and numerous nieces and nephews in the United States and Mexico. Born the youngest of four children in La Piedad, Michoacán, Mexico, to José Trinidad Melgoza and María Carmen Tamayo Melgoza, Ana Maria was raised in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, by her father and aunts after her mother died unexpectedly in La Piedad when she was four. Ana Maria got married on April 20, 1952, in Monterrey, following a lengthy written courtship with our father, and shortly afterward moved from Monterrey to Pueblo, Colorado. Güera, Dad’s term of endearment for Mom, raised three children, became a naturalized citizen, and formed strong relationships in her adopted country. Known affectionately as Ana Maria, Mamá, Cuni, Güera, Gma, Granny Annie, Canudie, Auntie Ann, and Mom, she dedicated herself to many activities, including volunteer work and outreach with the Handicaps and Pals Club, Pueblo Democratic Caucus, Pueblo Legion of Mary, Estudiantina Choir SCSC (now CSU Pueblo), as a founding member of Mariachi de Pueblo (which has been active for 50 years), Dante Alighieri Italian Choir, Cub Scouts Den Mother, PTA and Room Mother, and, in her later years, weekly visits to hospitals and nursing homes with parish priests. Mamá was incredibly resilient and full of grit. The early loss of her husband and later her daughter did not diminish her passion for life or her commitment to fitness. Mamá learned to read Braille, became fluent in Italian, and could perfectly recall the words and music of over 300 songs in Spanish, English, and Italian. She also created beautiful, crocheted baby clothes, blankets, and slippers by counting stitches and remembering complex patterns with her remarkable mind. Although she faced many challenges, including a quadruple bypass in 2000 and the placement of three stents afterward, Mom worked out daily—whether walking the track with friends at South High School or briskly walking back and forth along her clothesline in her backyard, rain or snow. She also stretched daily, did arm and leg lifts, and was known among family as the epitome of good posture. Whether walking, standing, or sitting, she always kept her chin up, shoulders back, and stood centered over a solid base. Mom’s home was a sanctuary and a haven of hope for women and men who sometimes desperately needed someone to listen, a nonjudgmental friend, prayer, song, a bite to eat, a cup of coffee, or occasionally a place to sleep since she kept a cot and clean bedding ready. Music and song were always an integral part of her ministry, and she shared her voice at countless birthdays, quinceañeras, baptisms, funerals, anniversaries, long road trips, and in every season of life. Mamá would say that there's a song for everything, and over the years, there was rarely a topic, theme, or word that didn’t evoke a song from her seemingly endless memory playlist. Over the years, she also gifted hundreds of spiritual and practical gifts to family, friends, and strangers, all of which still carry special meaning for us. These included pennies with laser-cut doves, pens with angels, mini flashlights, mini address books, notes of affirmation, and pressed flowers. She was a talented gardener, maintaining a neatly kept lawn and a beautiful variety of plants and flowers around her property and inside her home, especially her favorite, the stunning red roses. Every day, Mamá left some breadcrumbs, small pieces of tortilla or rice, for her birds, and carefully scrubbed the birdbath with a stiff brush, refilling the bowl with fresh water. Mom was legally blind for much of her life and lost all sight during her final 36 years. Despite her blindness, she navigated life independently and never let her sight loss prevent her from ‘seeing’ the beauty in people, nature, and the world around her. The spotless, well-organized home she maintained, her excellent cooking, and her selfless community involvement made us wonder how she ever found time to sleep. Mamá poured the warmth of her heart into her heavenly tortillas, legendary mole, pork green chili, pintos, sopas, and caldos. Her fuel for our bellies was matched only by her prayers and words of affirmation, the unconditional love of her embrace, and her gentle presence. Mom lived independently until the COVID-19 pandemic started in March 2020, when she and Rick entered a period of 1,744 days during which they were rarely apart. Her final year was characterized by extended visits to Frank and Karen's home in Fort Collins, with Rick always by her side. Mom loved being with both of her sons in the same house and enjoyed frequent visits back to her home in Pueblo—a place she considered a dear friend. Her last two visits to her “friend” in September and late October included attending the State Fair, enjoying circus foods like curly fries, visiting Crites Farm and Musso Produce, and indulging in her favorite treat, a root beer float. Mom was blessed by a team of medical personnel in Pueblo who provided her with gentle, personal care, including Dr. Harold Smith, Dr. Stephen Millegan, Dr. Paul Wetzig, and PA Patricia Turner, followed later by Dr. Lewis, Dr. Laurence Berarducci, and Shafonta Whatley. We are especially grateful for the loving attention and home health care she received from friends Larry Higginbotham, Annette Giordano, and Susan Duran, as well as the frequent religious ministrations of Father Jean Marie. "Mi-Niña-Suzie” and her near-daily visits during Mom’s last ten years fostered a tender mother-daughter relationship that made a significant difference in her quality of life. During her final year, Mom’s health needs were professionally managed by PA Rita Stern, Sarah Tillman, and Sarah Ballard Ramirez, and later by the Dignity Hospice Team. In her last six months, the visits from nurses Jamie and Grace, Chaplain Kathy, Social Worker Macy, the delivery of the Sacrament of Communion by Chris, and oversight by Dr. Grubbs were comforting and reassuring, knowing the team was always available if needed. We are especially thankful that Father Jean Marie was able to travel from Pueblo to Fort Collins to administer the Sacrament of Last Rites, and to visit Frank’s home the day after Mom’s passing. Cremation has occurred, and a celebration of life will be held in Pueblo on September 19th. The event will feature a 10:00 am Mass at Holy Family Church, followed by an 11:30 am interment at Roselawn Cemetery, and a reception with lunch at the Pueblo Country Club. This date was chosen to align with the harvest season, when the grass remains green, flowers bloom, and birds sing at the end of summer.

Tributes

Ana Maria Ramirez

September 15, 1928 - December 21, 2024