Ruby Apodaca

Ruby Ann Santistevan Apodaca

Ruby Apodaca, born in Costilla, New Mexico on December 21, 1942, passed away on February 15, 2022, in Grand Junction, Colorado. She was 79 years old.

She grew up in Douglas, Wyoming where she met the love of her life, Pete. They were married on October 20, 1959, and started their life together in Sunrise, Wyoming then relocated to Leadville, Colorado in 1963. Ruby dedicated herself to raising her children and taking care of her family. She then started her long career at Manor Vail Lodge in Vail, Colorado. She started out as a housekeeper and eventually became Manager of the Housekeeping Department utilizing her beautiful talent of people skills along with a continued desire to improve herself. This role in her life was an enormous source of pride into her retirement in 2005. After retiring, she and Pete relocated to Grand Junction, Colorado that same year.

After moving to Grand Junction, she never lost interest in improving herself and helping others. She was a volunteer for the foster grandparents’ program and was eventually hired as an Instructional Reading Aid at Thunder Mountain Elementary School. In time, she stopped working to care for her husband, which she lovingly did until his passing in January of 2020. She has continued to be an active member of the Homeowner’s Association in her neighborhood of Friendship Woods where she had many friends.

Ruby was a devout Catholic and loved the Lord. She always gave her love uniquely to every person she met. Her legacy as a wife, mother, grandmother, and friend has changed many lives and will continue to do so.

Ruby is survived by her children:  LaiLoni Apodaca, Pete Apodaca (Sheli), Yvonne Mondragon (Robbie), and Cecilia Apodaca (Steve); grandchildren: Aletha, Victoria, Jeremiah, PJ, Brittni, Matthew, Monet and Paul; great-grandchildren: Kailea, Jaylah, Nolan, Jocelyn, Alfred, Cianna, Malaya and Avianna; sisters: Angie Stinson (Gary) and Judy Egen (Greg) and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Pete and son Steve Apodaca; parents Paul and Edith Santistevan, sisters Diane Smith and Erma Reid, brothers Tony and Rick Santistevan.

Services will be held at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 535 West 1st Street, Palisade, CO

Rosary will be held on February 25th at 6:30 p.m.

Funeral will be held on February 26th at 10.00 a.m.

Burial of ashes will be held in the springtime beside her husband in Wheatland, WY