Marlene Valdez Pace

Marlene Valdez Pace (42) loved to dance and laugh. She loved to help strangers, especially those with the least among us. But, most of all, Marlene loved her children. She was with her boys on March 21st fixing cattle fence when she had her fatal stroke. Generous even in death, Marlene was an organ donor, ensuring that her big heart continues to give life to others in the afterlife.

Marlene was born November 24th, 1980 in Pueblo Colorado to Marvin and Lena Valdez. They raised her on a small cattle operation in Penrose, CO. Marlene was raised in a loving family, by parents who dedicated their lives to her. She learned innumerable skills from her parents, like electrical wiring from her father or baking from her mother. They spent vacations camping in the mountains across Southern Colorado; and she learned that “family picnics” were actually firewood excursions. Both of her parents came from large extended families across Southern Colorado, and Marlene enjoyed all of the numerous family gatherings. As a child, Marlene was an accomplished Folklorico dancer, which gave her the opportunity to travel internationally and perform in front of a President. The Catholic Church was also instrumental in her life. She served as an altar girl, and became close to Bishop Arthur Tafoya after years of walking the San Luis pilgrimage and traveling with him to the Vatican for World Youth Day.

Marlene graduated from Pueblo School of Arts and Sciences and attended CSU-Pueblo. She held various jobs, including as a locksmith, bank teller and meter reader at the power company, where she was active with IBEW 667. She married Sal Pace in 2006, and they had three children, Wyatt (16), Carlo (13), and Alana (11), who became the focus of Marlene’s life. She encouraged and supported each of their interests, and wouldn’t think twice about making the 8-hour round trip to Blue Mesa if they asked her to take them ice-fishing. 

Marlene also became active in Democratic Party politics, and served as a precinct chair and hosted fundraisers. In her 30’s Marlene discovered jam-band music. She and Sal spent two summers selling Grateful Dead branded ultimate frisbees at Dead and Company concerts (one of those years even after Marlene and Sal had separated). She traveled the country to catch her favorite bands, artists and musicians. She also built a network of friends across the country through their mutual affection of live music. Marlene was excited to have recently helped found a nonprofit, Between the Strings Foundation, to provide musical education to adults and children in Central America with the aid of musicians from the United States. She served as the Treasurer in its initial organizational documents filed with the IRS.

Marlene was preceded in death by her parents Marvin and Lena Valdez. She is survived by her children, Wyatt, Carlo and Alana, her brother Frank Garcia, numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, and jam band friends across the country. 

A Funeral Mass is being held Saturday, April 1st 11 AM at St. Benedicts Church in Florence, CO. A reception follows at 2 PM at the Pueblo Union Depot in Pueblo, CO.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made at http://www.gofundme.com/marlenes-end-of-life-medical-bills