Obituary of Heidi Tauriello

Heidi Ann Tauriello

January 21, 1965 – January 31, 2023

Heidi Tauriello passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her loving family on January 31, 2023. A memorial service will be held at 10 am on Saturday, February 11th, 2023, at Lutheran Church of the Master in Lakewood. Presiding Pastor for the service will be Pastor Margot Wright. Burial of ashes will follow immediately at Evergreen Memorial Park.

Heidi was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois, to Mary Ann and George Thal. Her mother brought her and her brothers to Colorado where she lived in Lakewood. Heidi was surrounded by loving relatives, and a legion of caring aunts. She always felt the warmth—and especially humor—from her many cousins and extended relatives. And although she was born with three brothers as her only siblings, her cousin, Marit, was a true sister in her heart.

Like her father and brother, Heidi began her career working at United Airlines while she attended college at Metropolitan State University of Denver. It was during this time that Heidi met Paul, who also attended MSUD and worked in the airline industry. Heidi and Paul loved travelling and through their work were able to frequently jump across the nation and explore countries around the world. Their favorite destination was Paris, which they often visited--sometimes two or more times per year.

After graduating from college, Heidi transitioned into working in commercial travel services. Heidi was always focused on realizing her greatest potential and expanding her abilities. From this, she shifted from travel to a world-wide technical support position for American Express Corporation. No matter where she worked, Heidi was considered a great teammate and would make lifelong friends throughout her career.

Heidi and Paul married and began their family first with the birth of their daughter, Danielle, and then their son, Max (John Paul Maximilian). Heidi found the most fulfillment in being the mother of Danielle and Max. Her greatest reward was watching them grow and to be involved in their lives—through their schools, their athletics, and especially in the bonds they made with friends and neighbors considered as family.

As her children grew, Heidi again focused attention on self-improvement and personal growth. She pursued learning through traditional courses as well as unconventional disciplines from a wide range of teachers and spiritual leaders. She also discovered immense joy in volunteering to help horses in crisis with the Harmony Equine Center, a horse rescue organization of the Dumb Friends League.

Heidi lived a life of devotion and faith. Despite facing a grim medical diagnosis, she embraced the role of being a living miracle who defied all odds and continually beat a terrible illness. Through her spiritual strength, she accepted that she could be an inspiration and reason for hope to others facing similar circumstances. After more than a decade, she still held her faith even as the cancer ultimately took her life. Her legacy will continue as a model for hope in the face of the worst adversity.

Heidi was preceded in death by her brother, Jeff Thal; and niece, Marisa (Tauriello) Schultz. She is survived by her husband, Paul Tauriello; daughter, Danielle Tauriello; and son, John Paul (Max) Tauriello; her brother, James (Sandy) Thal; brother, Kevin Thal; sister-in-law, Lisa Tauriello; brother-in-law, Daniel Tauriello; brother-in law, Michael (Angelica) Tauriello; aunt, Mildred Olson; aunt, Betty Karaim; nephew, Jeff (April) Thal; niece, Kerri (Nick) Pena; nephew, Jeffrey Blood-Tauriello; and numerous grandnieces, grandnephews, and cousins.