Marcella Erminda Archuleta, lovingly known as Marci, passed away peacefully on Oct. 23 at her home in Manitou Springs, Colo. She was born on May 11, 1938, in Center, Colo., to Solomon and Flora (Luna) Jaramillo.

Marci is survived by her husband of 69 years, Celestino Archuleta (Tino); her children Cathy, Dennis (Moira), Anthony (Rhoda), Paul (Donna) and Maria (Barry); her grandchildren Nicholas, Katherine (Tim), Nathan (Nicole), Carolyn (Trevor), Alex, Ryan, Landon, Oscar (Harley) and Joseph (Amy); her great- grandchildren Benjamin, Ariana, Oliver, Sam, Luna, Emma, Francisco, and Ander.

Marci was a strong, brave, beautiful, and talented woman with the ability to reach out with wonderful kindness to family and friends as well as anyone she might meet. She was the matriarch of a large family whom she loved dearly. Throughout her life, Marci was devoted to her Catholic faith. She was continually active in her Catholic community at a very young age when she began to participate with her mother in various in Catholic organizations that provided Catholic prayer services for funerals and other religious events that inspired Catholic values for Hispano families in her hometown located in the San Luis Valley.  Although after moving from the San Luis Valley after she was married and settling in Colorado Springs, she continued to participate in these Catholic activities during her long visits with her family as well as her local church.

In 2009, she encouraged and worked alongside her family to restore the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, a historical mission church in La Garita, Colo.; worked to protect the remaining walls of the church’s convent through the construction of a monument dedicated to St. John the Baptist; and supported the construction of the St. John Paul II Rosary Walk. These projects protected and maintained through the Archuleta Family Foundation, were important for Marci because they helped to preserve the Catholic traditions of the Hispano culture by commemorating their historical presence of early Catholic settlers of La Garita. As a result, all these structures now encompass a spiritual Center that inspires contemplative prayer, enhanced by a beautiful setting for Catholics and other visitors. At the end of her life, she continued to reach out to people with her beautiful smile and an inviting handshake to always offer a warm welcome as an important part of her Catholic faith.

Marci was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Sam, Leroy, Nabor, and Phillip. She is survived by her sisters, Jennie Sanchez and Nancy Arellano, and her brothers Floyd, Robert, and Claude Jaramillo.

Visitation and Rosary service for Marci will be held Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at 9 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2030 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, Colo. A graveside burial service will take place in the San Luis Valley at Carnero Creek Cemetery in La Garita, Colo., on Nov. 1, 2023, at 11 a.m.

MI AMIGA

UNA MUJER MUY FINA

TRULY A LIFE-LONG FRIEND

SU CORAZON GRANDE Y PURO

WILL BE THERE TILL THE END

SU CARA TAN LINDA

LIKE A FLOWER IN BLOOM

SU RIZA Y SU VOZ

LIGHTS UP ANY ROOM

CON SU QUIRERIDO ESPOSO

THEIR CHILDREN SHE BORE

CON CARIÑO Y MUCHA PACIENCIA

TOGETHER SET OUT TO EXPLORE

LA ROSA MAS BRILLANTE

NOR A BLAZING FALLING STAR

PUEDEN COMPETIR CON SU AMISTAD

THAT IS SPREAD NEAR AND FAR

SU VOZ COMO UN PARAJITO

SOFT AND WITH AFFECTION

CANTA CON TODA SU ALMA

WITHOUT ANY HESITATION

NO SE OLVIDARÁ UNA AMIGA

WHO RUNS BY THE NAME ‘MARCI’

LE DESEO LO MEJOR DE TODO

FOREVER A FRIEND TO ME

Written for Marci by Alfi Salazar