Caroline Palacio Garcia

Born October 13, 1939, in Morley, Colorado, to Ramon and Ann (Balardeta) Palacio. This "coal-miner's daughter" made her heavenly journey on February 17, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. Preceded in death by the love of her life, Gilbert Garcia. Survived by her children, Denise (Michael) Cooper, Marty (Linda) Garcia, Mark (Karen) Garcia, Frank (Cheryl) Garcia, Ken (Cheryl) Garcia, Rae (Don) Peters, Tom (Sara) Garcia; and her best friend and twin sister, Carol Santoyo. She is also survived by loyal pooch-girl, Josie.

Caroline, Mom, or as known to most "Gram," leaves to cherish her memory her dear grandchildren, who she prayed for, laughed, sparred, and joked with. They are Kelcie (Israel) Lujan, Kayli (Landon) Cooper, Travis (Emily) Delorean, Tony (Isabel) Garcia, Cori (Gregg) Hatton, Nick Garcia, Kaci (Ryan) Cambo, D.J. Garcia, Peyton (Johnea) Adakai, Tionna Adakai, Carliann (Jordan) Ward, Kenny Garcia, Jamie (Daniel) Wallace, Kristen (Jeff) Wallace, Matt (Alexis) Peters, Sage (Hunter) Polley, Sofia Garcia, and Blaze Garcia.

Also surviving her is her caregiver who we lovingly call "Gram's Personal Assistant," our angel, Regan Dionisio, who will forever be a part of our family. We love you Regan.

Special thanks, too, to Dr. Sarah Housman for the loving and compassionate care she provided.

Gram always loved "the babies" more than anything. Her great-grandchildren who she held, cuddled, smooched and adored are Kingston Lujan, Buzz Williams, Baby-Girl Williams (expected soon), Jayce Hatton, Carter Hatton, Kaine Cambo, Quinn Cambo, Lawson Ward, Declan Ward, Rowan Hernandez-Wallace, Noah Hernandez-Wallace, and Koda Polley.

Caroline's surviving siblings include her best friend and identical twin sister, Carol (Larry) Santoyo. Mom and Aunt Carol enjoyed their evening telephone visits, laughing and giggling like school girls. When they were together, all anyone heard were their giggles and whispers. We couldn’t help but wonder what was so funny and what or who they were laughing at!

Other siblings surviving her are brother, Sam Palacio, and sisters, Josephine Bralish and Gloria Guillen. Her brother-in-law, Earl Garcia, also survives her.

Besides her devoted husband, Gilbert Garcia, she is preceded in death by parents, Ramon Palacio and Ann Balardeta Palacio, parents-in-law Arturo Garcia and Sarah Montoya Garcia; grandson, James Matthew Cooper; siblings, Maryann Palacio, Raymond Palacio, Bobby Palacio, Henry Palacio, Adeline Bralish, and her baby brother, Frankie Palacio Sr.

Gram was a homemaker most of her life; cooking and baking were her love-language. Family was most important to her, and she relished cooking delicious Mexican and Italian dishes for her loved ones. There was a time in our busy careers that she would prepare to-go dishes of lasagna, enchiladas, and homemade breads, and all we had to do was stop and pick up our orders on our way home from work. Holidays were always a big production that included her homemade tamales and Italian honey cookies - an example of her proud Mexican-Italian heritage. She loved to feed people.

She took care of her grandbabies, often adjusting her schedule to accommodate her children. Thank you, Mom; you were the lifesaver in our hectic lives.

Gram was also accomplished at crochet. She made her family beautiful blankets and beanies while lovingly praying for us.

She prayed for us constantly, praying the rosary and going to Mass daily. She and Dad were the foundation for our Christianity. We were Blessed to have parents that believed in the Good Lord and modeled the virtues of our Christian Faith.

After we were grown, Mom embarked on several endeavors; she did home health care, drove a school bus, and - after Dad retired - the two of them worked in our brothers' companies, accompanying Dad to places like Cheyenne, Tercio, Weston, and Ridgway.

Gram and Gramp did everything together. They were dancers, avid hunters, travelers, campers, but it was staying on "Caroline's Mountain" together that it seemed they were the happiest. Mom loved the mountains as much as Dad and, as he said, they "lived the dream" for the years they enjoyed their mountain home.

After Gramp's passing, Gram, being the devoted Catholic she was, filled her days volunteering in the hospitals as a Eucharistic Minister, administering communion to patients and also to the homebound. She tried to keep busy by filling her life with family events, cooking, baking, church events, and volunteering, but the loss of Gramp was something that she found difficult beyond measure. She looked forward to the day that she would go home to Jesus with Gramp waiting for her, taking her hand, and leading her once again in a Texas two-step.

Rosary, 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, and Funeral Mass at 9:15 a.m. Friday, Feb. 24. Both services at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 414 W. 11th Street, Pueblo, CO.