Obituary of Mary "Pelu" Garcia

Mary Lou “Pelu” Garcia, 84, went home to Jesus on Monday, April 10^th, 2023.

Mary Lou was born in Gilcrest, Colorado to parents Paul and Carmen Chacon on February 11, 1939. Being one of nine children, you can imagine there was never a dull moment at home growing up, especially at their family restaurant Las Palmas where she helped. Mary Lou worked at the potato docks and made burritos to sell but one of the most rewarding jobs she had was being a mom to her four children, Margie, Yvette, Danny, and James.

Mary Lou met her husband Lyonel “Leo” Garcia while working at her family restaurant. Leo would frequently stop there while on the road and said he won a six pack on a dare to ask her out, little did he know he’d win her heart as well. They were married for 48 years before he passed away on April 12, 2009.

Mary Lou loved shopping, especially for shoes and purses. She loved playing cards, whether it be a game of Canasta with her cousin Ginger, a game of poker with the family or UNO with her great-granddaughters Sophia and Juliana, you could always deal her in. If she wasn’t out and about you would find her making her famous Las Palmas tacos, tortillas, green chili and sopa. She always had food ready, and everyone was welcome at her table. If she wasn’t busy cooking, she would be sitting down enjoying The Young and the Restless, a good novela or a Hallmark movie. Above all else, there was nothing that Mary Lou loved more than spending time with her family. She was always everyone's biggest cheerleader, best friend, and listener.  Mary Lou was more than a mom, grandma, and great grandma, she was the rock that held her family together.

Mary Lou is survived by her daughter Margaret Fernandez (Ignacio) of Mexico, daughter Yvette Ayala (Manuel) of Gilcrest and her son James Garcia of Greeley.  Her siblings Dora Alvidrez (Carlos) of Greeley, Helen Olivas (Stan) of Loveland, Ruben Chacon (Virginia) of Gilcrest and Rudy (Rosie) Chacon of Gilcrest. Her grandchildren Carmen Rodriguez (Juan) of Evans, Anthony Fernandez of Gilcrest, Kristin Montez (Raymon) of Evans and Vanessa Fernandez of Texas and her Great-grandchildren Sophia and Juliana Rodriguez and Miguel and Reyna Moreno. She also had many bonus grandchildren, too many to mention, but you all know who you are.

She is preceded in death by her husband Lyonel Garcia, her brothers Tony “Herbie” Villegas (Bobby), Antonio Chacon (Blanca) and John Chacon (Mary). Sister Rebecca Regalado, sister Mabel Tapia and her sons Paul Anthony Garcia and Daniel Christopher Garcia (Shawn).

A Recitation of the Rosary will be held Wednesday April 19, 2023, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church at 10:30am followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m.  Interment will follow at Mizpah Cemetery in Platteville.  In lieu of gifts, please send flowers, in care of Adamson Life Celebration Home 2000 47^th Ave Greeley, CO 80634, she loved peach roses and red poppies. Condolences may be shared at AdamsonCares.com.