Irene Trujillo

Irene Quesada Trujillo passed away July 26, 2022 at the age of 96. She was born in Lower Downtown Denver at her parents’ home on Larimer Street. She was delivered by Justina L. Ford, the first black woman doctor in Denver. Dr. Ford was not allowed to practice in a hospital so she practiced from her home, going to patients who could not afford a hospital. Her delivery fee of $30 included a home visit for mom and baby for ten days after the birth.

Irene was born to Annie Martinez Quesada and Emetirio Quesada on October 11, 1925. She is survived by brother Ramon (Virginia), grandson Michael and many loving friends and relatives. She was preceded in death by her three sons; Dick, Joe and Michael and her siblings Mike, Charlie, Helen and Eusebio.

Irene was raised in Denver and moved to Pueblo in 1951. She fondly remembered her time spent with her grandparents and other family down in the ‘Valley’. She received her LPN license while raising three sons. She worked at St. Mary Corwin until her retirement in 1987. She walked 12 blocks to work the nightshift 5 nights a week with her best friend Ann Koncilja and did so until she was given a VW bug by her son Joe. At age 42 she learned to drive by going up and down the 2400 block of East Evans Avenue. Then she could drive to work and go ‘antiquing’! At 93 she was still driving a stick shift with no power steering. When her car finally broke down, she decided it was best to give it up and she stopped the driving she so much enjoyed.

In retirement she never stopped working. She became a nanny for Joe and Tallie Koncilja and helped raise their four sons; Joseph, George, Bobby and Teddy, who considered her their grandma. Her grandson Michael and all four boys were by her side when she died. She was a major influence in their lives and was warmly known as ‘nana’. A life-long democrat, she shook hands with four presidents: John Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and was kissed on the cheek by Joe Biden! She proudly never missed voting in an election.

She loved to shop for antiques and had a beautiful collection. She was a great cook and made the best green (very spicy) chili. Irene was a voracious reader and never came across a James Patterson or John Grisham novel she didn’t enjoy. She and her close friend Tallie would share books and cleaned house together every Friday. To keep her mind sharp, She enjoyed doing word searches, crossword puzzles, watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, and particularly loved Steve Harvey and others on the Game Show Network.

Irene was also a long-term donor to the St. Jude Foundation and a lover of all animals with a special affection for cats. Later in life she enjoyed her ‘fat-black-cat’ as well as time with her grandsons dog “Chico” whom she would walk around the block with. She was the most independent of women. She never relied on a man and lived until her death supporting herself with a humble lifestyle. She is survived by her grandson Michael, close cousin Maryann, brother Ramon, nieces, cousins, and the Koncilja family. She will be missed greatly by those who knew her.

Services will be held Thursday at TG McCarthy Funeral Home at 10am. Reception will follow at the Union Depot.