Grace Lucille Medina

Obituary for Grace Lucille Medina

On Tuesday, February 13th, 2024 our beloved mother went to her heavenly home after a short, unexpected illness. Grace Lucille Medina (80) of Leadville, Colorado died at Advent Health Porter Hospice in Centennial, Colorado surrounded by her loved ones. She was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandma (GiGi), aunt, and friend.  Grace was born on November 10th, 1943 to Maria Odilia (Romero) and Jose Elevi Mondragon in Embudo, New Mexico.  She was raised in Leadville, Colorado, and graduated from Lake County High School in 1962.  As a teenager, Grace worked at the Leadville hospital with her sister and mother and at local restaurants. In 1959, Grace met her husband Manuel Antonio Medina in Leadville.  Grace and Manuel were married on June 9th, 1962 at the Old First Presbyterian Church on Harrison Avenue in Leadville. They went on to have three beautiful children, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren during their 61 years of marriage. 

After raising her children as a stay-at-home mom, she was the office manager for Hayden Chiropractic and a museum clerk at the Heritage Museum in Leadville.  She took classes at Colorado Mountain College and worked at Lake County School District first as a cook at the high school and later as a paraprofessional working with bilingual families and special needs children at West Park Elementary and the Center.  She retired from the school district in 2011.  Grace and Manuel lived for eight years in California and 48 years in Leadville.  They spent the last several years in a dual residency between Llano, New Mexico, and Leadville, Colorado.  

Grace was a woman of faith who loved the Lord, her family, her church, and her community. She lived her life with positive energy, compassion, and vitality. She showed love and acceptance for everyone.  Family, caring for others, and faith in God were Grace’s top priorities in life.  She instilled these values in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Grace was a dedicated member of the First Presbyterian Church.  As a proud Presbyterian, she was involved in church leadership serving as an Elder on the Session. She often volunteered, ran coffee hour, and planned special events at the church. 

Grace enjoyed many hobbies: cooking, quilting, reading, playing piano, and especially spending quality time with her family.   She also loved the color blue.  As a lifelong learner, she took classes at Colorado Mountain College where she studied belly dancing, quilt making, computer skills, Spanish language, cooking, and music. Learning and sharing what she learned with her family brought Grace great joy.   Art was also very important to her; she loved painting with all mediums: oil, acrylic, and watercolors.   Her true talent became known when Cris was very young.  Cris would hand her a pen and paper and Grace would patiently and perfectly depict each of the Sesame Street characters. She would immerse herself in the arts whenever possible.  Later in life, She enjoyed learning new technologies and loved texting her children and grandchildren and taking pictures. In her community, she volunteered on election committees and school-related activities.  Furthermore, she supported her children and grandchildren expressing pride in their accomplishments and attending all of their activities. 

Grace is survived by her loving husband Manuel A Medina,  her daughters Becky (Rich) Tedesco, and Mandy (Pat) Woulfe, and her son Cris (Scott) Medina. Four grandchildren: James P. “Jimmy” Woulfe,  Anastacia Tedesco, Ashley Hoefer, Richie (Amy) Tedesco, and five great-grandchildren: Lillian Hoefer, Townzen Hoefer, Zamilla Michelin, Malachi Michelin, and Porter Tedesco.  Sister: Julie Mondragon. Brothers: Tom Mondragon, Manuel Mondragon, and Joe Elevi Mondragon. Brother-in-law Norris Medina, Sister-in-law Rafaelita Medina, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends whom she loved dearly.  She is preceded in death by her mother and father: Maria Odilia and Jose Elevi Mondragon, grandson-in-law, Troy Hoefer, sister’s in law: Videla Mondragon, Lillian Mondragon, Porfidia Mondragon, Mary Pacheco, Gertrude Medina, Lucia Medina, and Betty Medina.  Brothers in law:  Audelio Medina, Ricardo Medina, Alex Pacheco, and Erasto Medina.

A celebration of life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Leadville, Colorado on Saturday, June 29th, 2024.  Details and times will be available at a later date.  

In place of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Advent Health Hospice Porter Foundation in Grace’s name.  These donations will fund a gold leaf in Grace’s name at Porter Hospice.

Memorial donations can be made online at, https://www.rmahf.org/hospice.html

Or mailed to:

AdventHealth Hospice Care – Porter

PO Box 913401

Denver, CO 80291-3401

These biblical verses were selected by the family to honor their loving mother who rests in heaven.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” Romans 8:38-39  

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23