Maria Apolonia “Polly” Rubio passed away on April 9, 2022, in West Sacramento, Calif. where she was living with her daughter. An avid cook and baker, she will be remembered for her welcoming nature, her sweet tooth, and the sense of humor and dry wit that she held onto through her final days.

She was born Oct. 22, 1925, in San Pablo, Colo. to Federico and Maximiana Espinoza. The eighth of 13 children, Polly grew up in the farming community of Blanca, Colo. where she did farm work alongside her brothers to help support the family. She lived for many years in Arizona and California before returning to Ft. Garland, Colo. where she worked in home health care.

Polly took immense pride in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed traveling with her sisters, watching telenovelas and Sábado Gigante, and she was known to always have an open door and time to chat with the many friends and family who stopped in to say hello. She never let a visitor leave with an empty stomach, and she was especially known for her sopapillas and her cookies.

She is survived by her children, Patricia (Jim) Montoya and Roger (Judy) Arellano; six grandchildren, Georgie Montoya, Ryan Montoya, Carly Montoya, Jordan Montoya, Amber (Tom) Rotunno, and Kristi (Mike) Arellano-Hegarty; and two great-grandchildren, Tyler and Megan Rotunno. She is also survived by three sisters: Lita Chavez, Eufemia Santistevan, and Eva Maes, numerous nieces and nephews, and many wonderful friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and her husband, Antonio “Tony” Rubio.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be planned by the family at a later date, when she will be laid to rest at the Blanca-Fort Garland cemetery.