Teresita Hayward

Teresita “Tere” Hayward, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend and devoted matriarch of her family, passed away at her home in Fruita, Colorado on Tuesday, April 30th.  

Born in Grand Junction, Colorado on October 3rd, 1946, she was the second child to the late Albino and Cleo Venegas, and baptized at St. Joseph Catholic Church. As an adolescent, Tere’s life took her to California where she was a graduate of Banning High School in Wilmington. It was in California where she met her husband who preceded her in death, Stephen George Hayward, and their union was blessed in marriage in 1974. 

It was also in California where she became the Mother to her four children, Robert, Zebulan, Ethan and Stephanie. And this set the stage for the remainder of her life as she always put her family first, before anything else. Tere moved the family to Colorado in 1991, where her penchant for caring, community and being a Mother truly shined.  

Her love extended to all around her, as her heart and home were always open to many, including her beloved nieces and nephews. Her beautiful land, which she developed into quite the ranch, was always full of life, and a place of bonding and growth. This was somewhere where her unwavering love and guidance was open to so many people, including as some say, her friends of all ages, and her positive impact will be felt for years to come. 

 But above all, she may have loved her grandchildren the most. From watching her grandkids play sports on a Saturday afternoon, or taking them to school on an early morning, to watching them grow into successful young adults, being a grandma was one of her greatest joys.  

Tere also found joy in her hobbies which included gardening and sewing, which combined with her big heart, allowed her seamstress skills to help a countless amount of people in need.  While she loved her blooming flowers, her favorite time of the year were the holidays. Especially Christmas when her family was together.  

Her successful professional career included jobs with the US Navy and the Xerox Corporation, and was more recently a proud employee of Mesa County.  

Tere is survived by four children and two daughter-in-laws, Vanessa and Natasha; and her six grandchildren, Skylee, Scout, Carter, Cooper, Sophia, and Mia. Her love will continue to guide her family, and her heart and memories will always be cherished. 

A graveside service will be held Friday, May 10, 2024, 11:00 am at Elmwood Cemetery in Fruita. Following will be a Celebration of Life Reception at Tere’s home in Fruita.