Aurora Archuleta Obituary

Aurora E. Archuleta was born January 20, 1929 in Pitkin, Colorado to Fedelina and Miguel Espinoza.

In November of 1949 she married Amadeo Archuleta in Gunnison, CO. They were married for 57 years, until his passing in 2006. They had three children together: Larry D. Archuleta of Farmington, NM; Patricia Enriquez (Richard Rodriquez) of Pueblo, CO and Ray Archuleta (Teri Samora) of Durango, CO.

They raised their children in Durango, where she was a homemaker until her children were in high school. Aurora did home health care for several years. She also volunteered at St Columba Catholic Church and Project Merry Christmas. Her lifelong project was documenting the family tree. She would travel and visit with relatives to keep it updated.

Her granddaughters have fond memories of their grandmother baking and cooking. Every holiday, it was her tradition to have her granddaughters come over and bake goodies and ting a lings. She always had extra rolling pins, for her granddaughters to help her roll out homemade tortillas. She took pride in her gardening and her flowers; she had quite a "green thumb!" It was always a special time with grandma in her flower beds, where she taught all four granddaughters about weeding and planting. She always put her family first and made sure everyone was fed!

Aurora had a strong faith in the Lord and instilled that into her family, who she raised into the Catholic Church.

Aurora is preceded in death by her husband, Amadeo; her parents, Fedelina and Miguel Espinoza and her sisters, Raphelita Espinoza and Lucy Archuleta.

She is survived by granddaughters: Amy Griego (Jon), Andrea Enriquez (Nancy Rosario), Amelia Enriquez (Lee Aguilar), Angela Richards (Frank); eight great grandchildren; sisters: Katie Vigil and Amelia Daily and brother, John Espinoza.

For the last ten years of her life she fought Alzheimer's Disease and was cared for by her granddaughter Amy Griego, Elaine Herrera, Teri Samora and especially by her son Ray Archuleta. She went home to be with the Lord surrounding by her family. She will always be in our hearts. We love you.

A rosary will be recited on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. at St. Columba Catholic Church in Durango. Those wishing to pay respects and view may do so from 5-6 prior to the Rosary. The Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, January 21, at 10 am, also at St. Columba. Burial will follow at Greenmount Cemetery.