Ramona Marie Lopez, 88

Ramona Marie Lopez, 88, passed away peacefully at her home in Bonners Ferry on May 19, 2007. A private memorial service was held in Bonners Ferry on May 24, 2007 with internment at the Crown Hill Cemetery in Denver, Colo.

Ramona was born in Ramey, Colorado on August 31, 1918. She was the middle child and only daughter of seven children born to Policarpio and Francisquita Martinez.

She had many interesting stories of her childhood including the time she and two of her brothers had typhoid fever and the home was under quarantine for four months. Ramona quit school as a young teenager to help with domestic chores in the home and recalled making dozens of tortillas daily that were eaten immediately by her hungry brothers.

She married Bernard Lopez, days before her 18th birthday. Just ten days later her mother died and Ramona and Bernard welcomed her younger brothers into their home. She also cooked for Bernard's brothers during this time. Bernard, like most men in this area of southern Colorado worked in the coal mines. They were divorced in the mid 1950'S.

Ramona waited tables in Trinidad, Colorado where she raised her children. She also lived in Los Lunas, New Mexico during the 1960'S. In the early 1970'S, she moved to Denver, Colorado where her children lived. In 1976 she and Bernard, after being married 20 years and divorced 20 years, remarried.

Bernard died at home in August 1990 where she and her children helped to care for him during his bought with cancer.

In 2003 her son Tony and his family moved her to Federal Way, Wash., where she enjoyed making new friends, family gatherings and attending church.

Last July, Ramona moved into her apartment in Bonners Ferry to be near her oldest son, AI, and his family. She enjoyed cooking and having company. Over the past few months she became increasingly more ill and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early May. Ramona loved to dance and paint ceramics, cook Mexican food and was a great story teller. She loved her children and grandchildren and often would scold if they didn't come to see her as often as she liked.

She spent her last week surrounded by family and friends and in her final hours whispered softly to someone we could not see, smiled, and went peacefully to her last home.

Ramona is survived by her daughter, Francis (Pete) Vigil of Denver, Colo., sons: Joseph "AI" (Patty) Lopez of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, Bernard "Ted" (Ernestine) Lopez of Denver, Colo., and Anthony "Tony" (Eddie) Lopez of Federal Way, Wash., grandchildren: Erica (Gene)Denning, Andrea Lopez, Rhonda Lopez and Jodeen Lopez, all of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, John (Kim) Lopez of Federal Way, Wash., Marlene Vigil, Gloria (Tom) Koehler, Dorrine Blea, Daniel Lopez, and Damien Lopez, of Denver, Colo., Angela and Rick Lopez of Trinidad, Colo., and Bernard (Teddy) of Kansas City, Ks., 17 great grandchildren, and 5 great, great grandchildren. Ramona was preceded in death by her brothers, husband and youngest son, Raymond (Rick).

(The family of AI Lopez apologizes for any omissions or inaccuracies.)