Dolly (Damiana) Padilla

06.02.26

Dolly (Damiana) Padilla, age 84, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on June 2, 2026.

She was born on December 27, 1941, in Engleville, CO to Alex and Eloisa Montoya.

Dolly grew up in Engleville and Trinidad, Colorado, and was a proud graduate of Trinidad High School and attended Trinidad State Junior College. She moved to Rocky Ford and worked at Gobin Bookkeeping. She then moved to California for a few years and returned to La Junta where she worked at Tri County War on Poverty, she was hired at Mountain Bell in La Junta then transferred to Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Denver and back to Pueblo while working for the Bell system and retiring from Qwest in 1999 after 29 years. She was a volunteer/member for the Trinidad Las Animas County Chamber of Commerce, the Democratic Party in Trinidad and Pueblo, American Red Cross, First Family of Military Affairs, Communications Workers of America as Union Steward, lifetime member of VFW Women’s Auxiliary, Trinidad Historical Society, American Cancer Society walk, she was recognized as outstanding United Way ambassador for fundraising committee work. She was honored to volunteer at the 1993 World Youth Day in Denver featuring Pope John Paul and took calls for the MS Jerry Lewis Telethon for many years. She got to meet presidential candidate Bill Clinton in Pueblo, CO, and got a kiss on the cheek from President Obama at a Democratic event in Denver, CO.

Throughout her life, Dolly was known for her love for her family and friends. She was fiercely loyal and protective but had a generous spirit and wanted to feed the world. She did an amazing job raising her four children on her own while working fulltime. Dolly loved cooking, playing cards, taking pictures, gardening, sewing and watching Gunsmoke and the Golden Girls.

Dolly was a woman of deep faith; she was involved with Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church and a member of La Sociedad de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe where she helped publish a cookbook where she entered 44 recipes. She prayed daily for us all.

Dolly loved sports, the Denver Broncos, the Colorado Rockies, and the Avs. As a lefty, she was good at billiards/pool, she was the pitcher for her work softball team, could throw a mean horseshoe and would drop everything to fish at her favorite lakes. She also taught her family how to fish.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Alex and Eloisa Montoya; her husband, Phil Padilla; her beloved son David; her brothers, Lawrence, Carl, Roger, Mose, Joe, Herman and Ferman; her sisters, Evelyn Di Marco, Damiana, Gloria Powers, and Rosabelle Crowser; beloved twin grandchildren and other beloved relatives.

Dolly is survived by her children, Roberta Lewin (Ray Lucero), Monica (Jason) Menapace, Joe Zavala. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Elizabeth Ortiz, Anthony Espinoza, Andy Espinoza (Zyrayah), Timothy Lewin (Alexandria), Lindsay Lewin (Sam Powell) and Zachary Zavala; daughter in law Kim Zavala. Great grandchildren Monique Ortiz (Gabe Chavez), Montana Espinoza, David Santisteven, Samantha, Joanna, Victoria and Christopher Lewin, Azyiah Espinoza and a great-great grandchild on the way. She also leaves her brother Pete (Ermalinda) Montoya and sister Judy (Tim) Koller. She also leaves numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins who she cherished dearly. Dolly also loved her very special friends Jo Ella Valdez and Linda Barron.

Rosary: Monday, June 15th, 1:00 p.m. at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Funeral Mass: Monday June 15th, 1:30 p.m. at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Interment: Monday June 15th, following mass at Engleville Cemetery.

Arrangements made under the direction of Comi Funeral Home.