Elsie Cordova

Elsie (Barrientos) Cordova, 92, our beloved matriarch, passed away peacefully on October 23, 2024 at HopeWest Hospice Care Center surrounded by her family. Elsie was born to Estefana (Martinez) and Francisco Barrientos on January 3, 1932 in the rugged mountain town of Crested Butte, Colorado. Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, numerous siblings, and by her grandsons Cristobal Cordova, Ernie Vigil, and Dominic Vigil. She is survived by her husband Filiberto “Bill” Cordova, and her seven children; Kathy Cordova, Pauline Cordova (Tracy Sutherland), Francis Reyes (Ricardo), Bill Cordova Jr. (Tina), JoDee Cordova Williams (Colin), Jeff Cordova, and Estephen Cordova. Also surviving are 38 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. 

Elsie’s parents were both born in Mexico, and their life stories read like a novel. Her family's experiences epitomize what it means to be an American with deep Mexican roots. Her parents were blessed with nine strong children. Their backbreaking labor in farm fields, copper mines, and other labor-intensive industries provided for their burgeoning family. Elsie kept memories of her childhood, her working years, her brothers and sisters, and her eternal parents close to her heart. In the bustling Spring of her life, Elsie recalled times in “the fields” picking mountains of onions, potatoes, and the food crops that would sustain her community. Her most poignant stories from that period were of simple shared, communal meals with her family in those very fields. Elsie’s formal education ended at the 9th grade, but the sheer volume and complexity of wisdom she imparted endured for the entirety of her life. 

The long and fruitful Summer of Elsie’s life blossomed, and her life forever changed when she met Bill Cordova at the Ouray swimming pool in the summer of 1948. After 2 years of dating, she and Bill married on April 22, 1950. Upon that union taking place, her family by marriage instantly loved her as their own. Their early years of marriage were exemplified by struggle and sacrifice, and the couple endured tragedy, triumph, and struggle together. They traveled across the Southwestern United States to find work and lived in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. 

Elsie’s proudest accomplishment was her family. She adored all of her children and their progeny. Some of her happiest memories were of family camping trips to the Cimmaron and Silverjack areas, where she watched her children bond with each other in that stunning Colorado setting. It is well known that Elsie was an amazing cook and provider, and she regularly recalled the mountains of food she would prepare for anyone fortunate enough to gather with her and her family for a meal. Elsie touched and indeed helped forge history, and was active with her husband, Bill, during the Civil Rights era. She marched, sang, and once even met with the young man who would become the iconic Senator John Lewis. Because of her and her contemporaries' actions, a seismic shift occurred across our land. 

Her pride was deep for her work. She was a physically strong woman, despite her small stature, and she was a housekeeper at St. Mary’s Hospital and for the Museum of Western Colorado. She volunteered with the Catholic Outreach and the Catholic Soup Kitchen for many years after retirement. In all of her years of triumph, struggle, or sacrifice, Elsie’s recollections and stories rarely included any mention of the turmoil that occurred during short periods of her life. She was the salt of the earth, and she would simply evaluate the situation, take steps to overcome the struggle at hand, and would then move on with resilience and strength. 

In the Autumn of her life, Elsie began to feel the sting of age. Her body slowed, her activities decreased, her ability to be the active person she always strove to be declined. Her body was insulted by numerous health conditions, but her spirit remained untouched, and those around her remained fortunate to witness her enduring sense of humor and love. As her physical abilities declined, she began to appreciate things that she could enjoy from her limited world. She became a bird watcher, learning names like Junco, Sparrow, and Towhee. She could not cook any longer, and her taste buds suffered the insult of other people’s cooking, but she always loved the simplicity of beans and tortillas. Fresh fruit was also her savior, and one day, in the summer of 2024, she downed five Palisade peaches in a single day with absolutely no regrets. During the pandemic, when her world and connections grew smaller, she’d enjoy movies, mini-series, and sports to include basketball, football, and even tennis. Although she did not fully understand or care about the rules, she recognized athletic skill, and she began to appreciate superstars like Jokic and Mahomes. She even got a Nuggets T-shirt to wear during the Nuggets games. 

The late Winter of her life was a brief period. She insisted that she maintain an active lifestyle in her home even into her final weeks. Her laughter and smiles barely faded, and she remained vital despite her worsening symptoms. Her gentle nature never changed. Rolling her four-wheeled walker across the sidewalk, she’d dodge pill bugs and beetles, making sure to never crush one accidentally. Her greatest animal loves were "doggies", and she could never get enough of them. Her last dogs were Noche and Simba, and she always remembered them with smiles and laughter. She was frequently visited by Ella, her eldest daughter Kathy’s dog, and Ella loved Elsie very much. Dogs always knew Elsie was a “good” human, and treated her likewise. Elsie attended the local AKC dog show in late September 2024, and her smile brightened the stadium.

Her frailty increased and her weakness grew, but even through this difficult and brief period of her life, she continued to declare her love for all who surrounded her. It is with gratitude now that we remember her. Gratitude for the morals, wisdom, love, and spirit she imparted. Gratitude for the strength and resilience that defined her outlook on life. Gratitude for the pride she had for her labor, for her family, and for her ability to see the light in everything. There is some comfort in knowing she loved us as much as we love her, and we will always miss her. Our sadness will never completely fade. Many hard days lie ahead, but to remember Elsie only in an ocean of sorrow would diminish her memory. We will smile and laugh every day remembering the funny things she did in life. Her kind, sometimes ferocious, but always angelic existence will be eternal. As a lifelong member of the Catholic church, her reward is earned, deserved, and forever. Now, as her circle closes, she will forever remain the kindest, sweetest, and most caring person to grace this green planet. Forever our Dad’s love, forever our beautiful Mom, and forever a good and loving human. 

A celebration of her life will be held at 9:30 AM on Saturday November 2, 2024 at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, 230 N 3rd Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501. A brief light brunch will commence after the mass at the on-site parish hall. Elsie will then be laid to rest at Olathe Cemetery in Olathe, CO. The family will embark from the church at 1 PM sharp. 

The evening prior, on Friday, November 1, 2024, a short viewing and Rosary will take place from 3 to 5 PM at Brown’s Funeral Home, 904 N 7th Street in Grand Junction, CO 81501. 

Elsie loved the color purple, so please consider adding a splash of purple to your attire.

Thank you for the outpouring of love and support, our Mom was everything to us. The family would like to thank Dr. Patrick Page, Dr. Joshua Hulst, and Kristi Haan PA-C, as well as the team at Primary Care Partners, for caring for our Mom. We would be honored for contributions in any amount to be made in her name to HopeWest Hospice or to the Grand Valley Catholic Outreach.