Obituary of Priscilla Rivera Pino

Priscilla Rivera Pino

1937 – 2023

Priscilla Rivera Pino, wife of Thomas Pino, mother of Monica Lisa Pino and Denise Marie Pino Erwin passed away peacefully on September 2, 2023 at the age of 85 after a brief illness. Priscilla was in her 63rd year of marriage with her husband Tom.

Priscilla was born to Freda Gold and Thomas Rivera on November 4, 1937 in Walsenburg, Colorado. She grew up in the Curtis Park neighborhood in Denver and attended Gilpin Elementary School and Cole Middle School. Priscilla graduated from Denver’s Manual High School in 1956. With limited resources, but optimal motivation, she graduated from Loretto Heights College in 1960 with a degree in elementary education. Priscilla was a bilingual elementary school teacher, most notably within the Denver Public Schools, but also in various other school districts and Denver Headstart, for 50 years. She brought untold “treasures” to her students. Her students loved her and she loved her students and took great joy in helping her students to learn and thrive.

Priscilla was a devoted mother and grandmother. She loved children and she took great delight in spending time with her children, grandchildren and all of her nieces and nephews. She enjoyed reading, fixing puzzles, following the escapades of our family feline Quick Silver Eugene and spending time with family and friends. She was thoughtful, kind and generous and she was loved by all who knew her.

Priscilla is survived by her husband Tom, her daughters Monica and Denise, her son-in-law Paul Erwin and her grandchildren Alexander Erwin and Michael Erwin. She is survived by her sister Dolores Rivera, her brother Leonard Gold and Gloria Trujillo, and her sisters-in-law Jean Murphy and Ramona Pino and their families. She is also survived by her aunts Ernestine Silva and Kathy Andrieski (Bill) and her cousins Linda Bedinger, Ralph Chavez, Tim Chavez, Paul Rivera, Max Pino, Fran Lopez, Danny Lopez, Sylvia Chavez, Loretta Witek, Barbie Hidalgo and their families.

She was preceded in death by her mother Freda Trujillo, her father Thomas Rivera, her grandmother Beatrice Chavez, her siblings Sylvia Trujillo, Sammy Trujillo and Bob Trujillo and her parents-in-law Sotelo and Delphine Pino. She was also preceded in death by her aunts and uncles Flavia and Roman Chavez, Frank T. Rivera, Ernest Rivera, Louise Shacklett, Juanita and Dan Lopez, Barbara and Ben Archuleta and Betty and Charles Chavez. Also preceding her in death are David Rivera, Ernest Rivera, Paul Sotelo Pino, Rita Pino, Patricia Moye, Manuel Joseph Pino, Danny Lopez, Alberta Faith Lopez, Chris Lopez, Nellie Grace Pino, Casey Chavez, Steve Valdes, Lisa Pino and many other beloved family and friends.

On Monday, September 25, 2023, at 12:00 noon, a funeral mass and lunch reception will be held at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 2626 East 7th Avenue Parkway, Denver, Colorado.