Dora C. Lopez

Dora C. Lopez, 84 of Denver passed away 7/29/08. Preceded in death in 1999 by her husband of 58 years, Fred William Lopez. Beloved mother of Gloria, Fred, Jr., Patricia, Larry, Robert and Mary. Funeral Mass on Tue., 8/5/08 at 1:00 PM at Newcomer West Chapel; Viewing 1 hour prior to the Mass. Commital Service at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

A synopsis of "Dora C. Lopez, A True Story by Rory Richardson (age 12)"

My grandmother, Dora C. Lopez, born in Aguilar, Colorado on 7/10/1924. Dora was named Aurora & had a twin sister, Margaret, who died in a tragic accident when she was 4, & she had 6 brothers & 3 sisters. Her father Juan worked for the railroad and was kind, honest and loved his family very much. Her mother Maclovia was a stay-at-home mom who worked much harder than the women of today. Life was wonderful, with plenty to eat, good clothes and parents who encouraged the importance of a good education & learning the English language.
When Dora was 9 years old her father was murdered for his paycheck when he was on his way home from work. After Juan's death things changed for the Casados family. Maclovia took in laundry, washing & ironing, to keep her family fed & clothed.
Dora decided she did not like her given name of Aurora & insisted on being called Dora. Dora lived a hard life until the age of 15, when she met my grandfather, Fred William Lopez. They met at a dance, Fred fell in love at first sight & Dora also fell in love with Fred & they married when Dora was almost 16.
Dora & Fred had their 1st child Gloria 1 year after they were married, then Freddie, Patricia who died at 5 months of pneumonia, then Larry, Robert, & my mother Mary.
Fred served in the Navy during WWII but was released from duty because working in the Trinidad mines had ruined his back & given him black lung. Fred and Dora moved to Denver & both worked for Samsonite. They bought a house in southwest Denver. Petitions to keep them out were circulated & red flags were put around their property. It took years before some of the neighbors accepted Fred & Dora for the wonderful people they are & I think it hurt them deeply.
Dora was able to live in her home 7 years after her husband's death with the help of her children. In 2006 she entered a nursing home where she died after a lengthy illness with Parkinson's disease.