Guadalupe Villalobos Briseno

Guadalupe Villalobos Briseño
Lupe was born in San Antonio, Texas to Frederico Villalobos and Maria Martinez. She was the third of eight children, six girls and 2 boys. Lupe first met the love of her life at age ten. Jose Hernandez Briseño he fell madly in love with her at first sight and would propose marriage at age twelve, of course she said "NO" and he had to wait. The two would eventually elope and marry on the eve of her 18th birthday March 2nd, 1951. The two journeyed through a joyous adventurous wonderful life for more than 73 years alongside each other.
Lupe spent the first ten years with her family following seasonal crops as a campesina (migrant farmworker). As a migrant from Texas, she had limited educational opportunities in high school, no college or any formal leadership training making her employment opportunities sparse. Caring for her five children at the time further challenged her labor options. Her husband supported the family as best he could, would constantly seek employment, moving the family several times a year, to wherever available farmwork and maintenance opportunities existed.
Lupe realized with so many annual moves her children's education was suffering. Soon after she would lose her baby boy to pneumonia dying on his 3rd birthday, bringing her and the family tremendous grief. She had had enough moving and in 1962 permanently relocated the family to Brighton CO. In 1968, once her youngest child was old enough to attend school. Lupe began to seek employment. Little did she know that her job search would lead and help social changes.
Lupe and the Kitayama Carnation Strike demanded that women, as well as all laborers, be treated with the respect and dignity that they deserved. The Carnation Strike, led by Lupe Briseño, was one of the seminal events in 1969 that laid the foundation for the Chicano Movement in Colorado. As a final act, at 6 a.m. on February 15, 1969, day 221 of a strike Lupe and four other women" Mary Padilla, Martha del Real, Mary Sailas and Rachael Sandoval chained themselves to the entrance gate. Weld County Sheriff's deputies arrived, they donned gas masks and sprayed tear gas in the faces of these chained, immobilized women. The women were jailed; the strike ended but the ramifications lived on. The impact of the woman-led social movement reverberated throughout the state within the Chicano civil rights movement that are felt today.
Lupe retired from the Government Printing Office. She continued her joyous life in devotion to God and St. Augustine's Catholic Church. She loved to sing and worship and was a cherished member of her Church choir. She adored long drives and visiting family as she would always share stories of their past travels. Oh! Don't forget the Ice Cream and to be quiet during her NOVELAS. In her final years she was showered with recognition for her contributions to the community. In 2019 the play, Chicano Power 1969 included "War of the Flowers" co-authored by Anthony Garcia and Daniel Valdez was produced. In 2020 she was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. In 2023 she was included in the Founders Mural in Brighton CO and in 2024 was selected as a Memorial Park Honoree with a Stone and plaque.
Lupe is survived by her husband, Jose H. Briseno; four children, Jose Jr (Barbara), Rudy (Tammy), Susie (William) and Fred (Carrie). Along with eight grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her fourth child Oscar, both parents; Frederico and Maria, a brother and sister; Albert and Petra.
VIVA Guadalupe Villalobos Briseño
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