Juanita A. Gallegos

Obituary for Juanita A. Gallegos

J uanita A. Gallegos, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully after a courageous 15-year battle with cancer. She was 72 years old.

Juanita was born in 1953 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Jose B. and Viola Medina. In 1956, her family moved to Colorado, where she lived the rest of her life. She graduated from Brighton High School in 1971, later earning her B.A. from Metropolitan State College in 1981 and her M.A. from the University of Colorado in 1990. She started a Doctorate program but sadly, was halted by a cancer diagnosis.

With a deep love for education and children, Juanita devoted 30 years to teaching in the 27J School District. She touched countless lives with her compassion, patience, and commitment to her students.

Family was always at the center of Juanita's life. She and her husband, Jimmie, shared 54 years together as true high school sweethearts. Together they raised their son James and daughter Olivia, and she cherished her role as a grandmother and great-grandmother. Some of her happiest moments were spent taking her grandchildren on adventures to Disney World, Disneyland, Hawaii, and Yellowstone National Park. She also loved fishing with Jimmie family and friends at their cabin in Fairplay.

Her strength and faith were unwavering throughout her life, especially during her battle with cancer. Juanita served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Augustine Catholic Church for 25 years, where she was a living testimony of God's love. Her smile, warmth, and devotion to faith will continue to inspire those who knew her.

She is survived by her husband, Jimmie Gallegos; her son James Gallegos (wife Amy); her daughter Olivia Gallegos; her grandchildren James Joseph (wife Fari), Gabby (husband James Hopson), and Leia Brito; and her great-grandchildren Birdie Gallegos, JP Gallegos, Johnny Ray Hopson, and Wesley Hopson. She is also survived by her mother Viola Medina, siblings Benjamin (Coco) Medina and Rosalie (Keith) Maples, along with many nieces, nephews, godchildren, and dear friends.

Juanita was preceded in death by her father Jose Medina, her sister Teresita Medina, and her nephew Lance Rodriguez.

Her legacy of love, faith, and resilience will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.