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Flora Russel Obituary
On January 2, 2023, Flora Rodríguez Russel died peacefully, surrounded by family. She was 90.
Flora was born in Española, NM, where she met her husband of 63 years, Dan Russel, when he was a cub reporter for the Santa Fe New Mexican. Together they raised eight children. Flora was unstoppable, and Dan was her champion. She attended college as a non-traditional student, earning her BA from Metro State in Denver and both a master's degree and a law degree from the University of Denver. Flora worked as a psychiatric social worker and for many years was Director of Risk Management at Denver Health. She was deeply spiritual and was deeply engaged with the community, active with the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association and the Leadership Denver Association, and serving on the boards of KRMA PBS, Denver Public Library Friends Foundation, and Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood. In the 1990s, Flora joined the board of Catholics for Choice, and she helped found both the National Institute for Reproductive Justice and the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights.
Flora was predeceased by Dan, her parents Lugardita and Manuel D. Rodríguez, brothers Juan G. Rodríguez, Manuel J. Rodríguez, and Gerald P. Rodríguez, and sisters Bertha Martinez and Angelina Valdez. She is survived by her beloved brother John C. Rodríguez, children Robert (Robin), Michael (Linda Antinone), Christine (Douglas Gilmore), James (Carolyn), Kathleen (David Thomson), Elaine (Eric Coombe), Marquita (Mark Tiarks), and Monica (Martin Lariviere); her grandchildren Josh, Rachel, Amanda, Michael, Nick, Emily, Walter, Lily, Tori, Angie, Abby, Robby, Marisol, Katie, Mateo, and Janie; her great-grandchildren Charlie, Pippa, Jamie, Chrissy, Flora, Felix, and Elena; and numerous nieces and nephews. They will remember Flora's intelligence, fierce independence, energetic generosity, and ready laugh.
Flora will be celebrated on Saturday, July 22nd and reunited thereafter with Dan at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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