Josephine L. Fuentes

Josephine L. Fuentes was born March 19, 1928 in Roy, New Mexico, to Manuel and Vivian Lucero. She was the first born of fourteen siblings. Josephine spent her first sixteen years in New Mexico and her childhood years were in Sabino in Harding County and later in Tucumcari, New Mexico where she went to catholic school.

The family moved to Dalhart, Texas, where she worked at the Officers Club in the kitchen. This is where she began to learn to cook observing how to make different salads. Her potato salad was the very best.

The family moved to Pueblo, Colorado and lived in the Salt Creek area. Josephine worked at the Pueblo Laundry on Union Avenue and at the Woodcroft Care facility.

Salt Creek is where she met the man she would marry, Margarito Fuentes, Sr., they met in December 1946 and then eloped to Raton, New Mexico in December 1947. They left on the 5th but did not get married until the 9th, reason being, young Josie was 18 and Margarito was 17. The happy couple needed Margarito’s parents’ consent.

October 1947 was the start of building their large and happy home. Josephine is loving mother of nine children and built her world around them, being a stay at home mom for 15 years.

In 1962 she decided to go to work to provide her kids with additional things for school. Josephine took a job at St. Mary Corwin laundry. There she folded the linens that came out of the press. Later, she accepted a promotion to the Uniform Room where she helped disperse uniforms for the staff. Josie retired from this position in 1984.

Josie spent her retirement years enjoying her grandchildren and helping to raising a few. When the grandchildren were grown, she enjoyed her Great grandchildren.

If you came to her home Josie made sure you were fed, and was the absolute best and fastest tortilla maker. She kept the family going, through quiet prayer. Although in private, her prayers were heard. Josie left her family with so many good memories and will be dearly missed by all that knew her.

During her 96 years of life she suffered loss. Her parents Manuel and Vivian Lucero; In-laws Nicolas and Selerina Fuentes; Siblings, Ernest, Manuel Jr. Mary, Adeline, Frank, John, Patsy and Arthur; Husband of 69 years Margarito; Children, Ismael, Mark and Carl Joe and Son-In-Law, Leroy Trujillo.

Survived by children; Ruth (Tom) Velasquez, Virginia Trujillo, Margarito (Cindi) Fuentes,Jr., Thomas (Jeanie) Fuentes, Rudolph (Arlene) Fuentes and Caroline Fuentes.

Twelve- grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and many relatives.

A visitation and rosary for Josephine will be held Wednesday, May 15, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM at Imperial Funeral Home, 5450 Hwy 78 West, Pueblo, Colorado 81005. A funeral service will occur Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 1:00 PM, 5450 Hwy 78 West, Pueblo, Colorado 81005. A burial to follow service will occur Thursday, May 16, 2024 at Imperial Memorial Gardens, 5450 HWY 78 West, Pueblo, Colorado 81005.