Bennie Chavez

1942 - 2017

Bennie Chavez, 75, of Superior, Colorado passed away peacefully, with his family at his side, to be with the Lord on Tuesday, October 31, 2017. Visitation will be held at St. Louis Catholic Church, on Monday, November 6, 2017, at 6:00 P.M. The Rosary will be offered following the visitation at 7:00 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, November 7, at the St. Louis Catholic Church, 902 Grant Avenue, Louisville, Colorado with Father Don officiating. Interment will follow at the Louisville Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Ryan Chavez, Tim Chavez, Tyson Chavez, Trevor Chavez, Christopher Segura and Joe Hawkins. A reception will take place at the Tri-City Elks No 2541, 525 Main Street, Louisville, Colorado 80027. Bennie was born in Kim, Colorado, to Benito and Sophia Chavez on August 20, 1942, and attended school in Lafayette, Colorado. On June 9, 1962, he was united in marriage to Elsie Gomez in Louisville, Colorado. He retired from the University of Colorado as custodial manager in 1998. Preceding Bennie in death were his parents, three sisters and five brothers. Surviving family members include his loving wife, Elsie Chavez, and children, Loretta Chavez, Arthur (Laurie) Chavez, Teddy (Teri) Chavez, sisters Isabel Montez, Mary Mestas and Cindy Varela, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. In 2012, Bennie was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, however, that did not defeat him. Bennie loved to travel to Cancun with his wife and family, enjoying each other even more as they realized how precious and tenuous life can be. You would find them walking on the beach, swimming in the warm turquoise water and every night watching the sunset together. Those sunset moments, it turned out, were a metaphor for Bennie and Elsie's life together. Bennie kept fighting his disease to the end. He thought he would have more time, he thought he could stay longer, as did his friends and family. Despite considerable pain from the disease that was spreading through his body, Bennie continued to live in the best way he knew how. The family finds peace knowing that in the end of his days he had such a wonderful family life and knew how much he was loved. He will be deeply missed by his family and many friends. The family of Bennie Chavez wishes to extend their sincere thanks to TRU Community Care Hospice, 2594 Trailridge Dr. East, Lafayette, CO 80026. Friends may share condolences online with the family at www.heritage funeralcremation.com