Cirilia J. "Lila" Coca

Cirilia J. Coca, "Lila" passed away on August, ', in Laramie, peacefully after a courageous battle with Parkinsons. She was born in Laramie on July 9th, 1955 to Cora and Jerry Coca. She was thrilled that Laramie threw her a Jubilee Days parade that her mom watched from the old lvinson Hospital. She was the third child of eleven siblings.
She graduated from Laramie Senior High in 1973. She played volleyball and was a talented violinist as well as a bright student. She and her sister Mary Ellen and friends were instrumental in establishing the first girls' varsity volleyball team sporting homemade jerseys. She began a student internship prior to graduating with the Medicine Bow Route, National Forest Service. She was hired as a full-time employee on June 21st 1974. She was an exemplary and far too dependable employee. She worked tirelessly and many extra hours to ensure all her tasks were done to her meticulous standards. She started in the mail room and worked all the way up to Human Resources Specialist. Her career spanned 43 years and she retired in 2017. Her Forest service career culminated in a 1950's themed party that she insisted on planning herself. She then directed others to make it happen and dress accordingly. She volunteered for many committees for parties and played on several co-ed softball, soccer and volleyball teams. She made many batches of enchiladas and other dishes to share. She took her younger siblings and later nieces and nephews to their legendary Christmas parties where "Santa" gave the best presents. After her mother died in 2006, she further filled the role of "mom" making sure that everyone was taken care of and was doing what Grandma Coca would have wanted. She was an incredible motherly role model for her entire family.
She was an avid athlete, playing softball, soccer, volleyball, and bowling. The pins screamed when she bowled and heaven help the baseman who was on the receiving end of one of her super sonic throws, or line drives. Later she faithfully attended her nieces and nephew's (and great relatives) sporting and school events no matter the weather or how far she had to travel. She had a lovely singing voice and was a talented cake decorator, event planner, and rosary maker. She watched every episode of Gunsmoke, Murder She Wrote, and the Rifleman at least 10 times.
She is pre-deceased by her mother, Cora Coca, brothers Tony Sisneros and Jerry Coca, infant sister Francis, and God daughter Jessica. She is survived by siblings: Treece Bailey (Torn), Elauteria (Teri) Frazier (Jeff), Mary Ellen (Mark) Earnhardt, Rock (Julie), Jeff (Juventina), Anthony "Christy", Laurence "Lencho" (Alanna), Julieann (Jay), God daughters:
Louisa Lopez, Ariel Earnhardt, Jessica Coca, Bianca Coca, Sarah Dobkins, Shelby Wright, and Anabel Coca.
Above all she loved God and her family. Mother Mary was a source of grace and mercy to her. She mothered all of us and was the most amazing person that many of us were blessed to know. Being even a small part of her well lived life was a blessing.
Rosary will be held at St. Laurence Church on Thursday, August 21rst at 6 p.m. Funeral mass will take place Friday, August 22nd at 10:00 a.m. lnurnment will follow at Greenhill Cemetery. A celebration of her life will take place at St. Paul's Newman Center after the burial.