Marie Ernestina Lobato

Our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Marie Ernestina Lobato, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2024, at her home surrounded by family.  She was 99 years old; forty days shy of turning 100. She was born on September 4, 1924, in Servilleta, New Mexico to Rafael Peña and Adelina Sanchez Peña. She was the heart of her home and family. She raised seven children in a loving home to be independent, strong, faithful in religion, generous, and hard-working. She was married for 48 years to Joseph Julian Lobato, who preceded her in death. Her life was a tapestry of love, family, hard work, and deep faith in God.

Marie’s journey began in Servilleta, New Mexico, where she was the youngest of five siblings. Life was not easy as both her parents passed away when she was just two years old. Her oldest sister and nearby relatives helped to raise her and her siblings. After graduating from high school, at the age of 19, she traveled to California where she lived with her sister and served her country by welding ships in a Los Angeles shipyard during World War II. After a year, she returned to New Mexico. While working as a waitress at her sister and brother-in-law’s bar in Ojo Caliente, she met her future husband. Marie and Joseph were married on June 21, 1948, in Ojo Caliente. For the next 25 years, they lived north of Center, CO where they ranched and raised seven children. After retiring from ranching in 1973, they moved to Canon City, CO, where they finished raising their children. In 1995, they moved to Pueblo due to Joseph’s health issues. After he passed the following year, Marie remained in Pueblo, residing there for 29 years.

Since Marie didn’t have a mother to teach her how to do handiwork and hobbies, many of these talents were self-taught. Marie was an accomplished seamstress, quilter of beautiful hand and machined stitched quilts, crocheter, knitter, embroiderer, cake decorator, cheese maker, and cross stitcher. She loved to pray the rosary, garden, can, bake, cook, fish, play card games, play slot machines, and do cryptograms. She loved her family and enjoyed cooking meals when they would visit, as well as for family get-togethers, and for friends and relatives. And these meals always included a homemade dessert.

Mom’s love, words of wisdom, and memories will always have a special place in each family member’s heart. “Hasta la vista”, until we meet again.

Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Joesph Lobato; her parents, Rafael and Adelina Peña; siblings Placidad Peña Romero, Rodolfo Peña, Lupe Peña Trujillo, and Julia Peña; and great-grandson baby Mateo Orlando Trujillo. She is survived by her children Andrew (Joyce) Lobato, Mary Ann (Dave) Arellano, Veronica (Matt) Warren, Joseph (Terry) Lobato, Jim (Shirley) Lobato, Bernadette (Stan) Dotson, and Ben Lobato. Grandchildren, Matthew, Patrick, and Christina (Jordan Garcia) Lobato, Nicole (Dustin Trujillo), Aaron and Alyssa Arellano; Luke, Jake, and Alex (Miranda) Warren; Christian and Lindsay Lobato; Jimmy (Nichole), Elena, and Juliana (John Oseth) Lobato; and  and Rachel (John Cornett)  and Stanton (Meg) Dotson; and 14 great-grandchildren.

We would like to thank Mom’s caregiver Barbara who cared for Mom with compassion and gentleness. Thank you to the Hospice staff that helped mom: Monica, Britt, Melanie, Leslie, and Chaplain Kevin. To Father Joseph Vigil, thank you for your visits, blessings, and praying with Mom and the family. Thank you to Father Edmundo and Lupe Gutierrez. To Mom’s neighbors, thank you for your acts of kindness and thoughtfulness - Clive and Steve, Travis and Eva, Greg and Debbie, Stan and Kay, and John and Brandie. Thank you to the housekeeper Alicia and groundskeeper Mike. 

The rosary will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 3, 2024, with the funeral mass following at 10:30. Both will be held at St Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 1132 W Oro Grande Dr, Pueblo West, CO.

The reception will be at 12:30 at St Francis Catholic Church, 611 Logan Ave, Pueblo, CO.

The burial will take place on August 31, 2024, at 11 a.m. in La Garita, CO.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Marie’s honor to the Lobato Scholarship at https://csupueblofoundation.com/news-events/donate-to-the-lobato-family-scholarship-fund/

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