DENVER — After a decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, longtime San Luis Valley resident and former Alamosa Public School teacher, Della V. Esquibel, passed away at the age of 92 at Aspen Siesta Skilled Nursing in Denver on Sept. 12, 2019.

Della is survived by three daughters, Therese Frazier (Denver), Eva Esquibel (Teenan Anderson, Lake George), Candy Wilson (John Wilson, San Diego, California); and eight siblings: Ernest Jr. (Dollie, La Jara), Alfonso (Helen, La Jara), Ben (Bernadette, Phoenix, Arizona); Margaret (Eliu, Phoenix, Arizona), Eleanor (Albuquerque, New Mexico), Inez (Lenexa, Kansas), and Richard (Sonda, Miami, Florida).  She also leaves behind six grandchildren: Lisa, Johnny, Christi, Brian, Christopher, and Marley; as well as ten great-grandchildren.

Della is preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Benina Valdez of La Jara, her husband, Candelario Esquibel, and a brother, Frank.

Della loved the outdoors, the mountains, gardening, flowers, baking (especially cinnamon rolls), playing the piano, painting, and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A devout Catholic, Della was involved in Our Lady of the Valley Church in La Jara, Sacred Heart Church in Alamosa, and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Colo Springs. Teaching children was Della’s passion. After graduating from Adams State University, Della taught for four years in Espanola, New Mexico. Widowed after only four years of marriage, Della returned to the Valley and dedicated 32 years of service to the Alamosa Public Schools. After her retirement, she served as president of the Colorado Retired Teachers’ Association.

Rosary and Funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church, Alamosa at 11 a.m. and 12 noon respectively on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. Interment will follow at the La Jara Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Della’s family respectfully requests that all contributions and donations please be made to the state or national chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association or the local La Puente.

A Vigil Service with Recitation of the Rosary will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019,  at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with a Mass of the Resurrection to follow. Interment will be held at the La Jara Cemetery. To leave online condolences, please visit romerofuneralhomes.com.

The care of arrangements has been entrusted to Romero Funeral Home of Alamosa.