Petra Speigel

Petra Antoinetta Speigel, 69, a longtime resident of Denver, Colorado, died Friday, November 27, at the Englewood Rehabilitation Center. Born August 18, 1951, in Rimini, Italy, she was brought to the U.S. by the Jewish Children's Bureau of Chicago as an orphan, and adopted by Dr. I. Joshua and Rosalynde G. Speigel in 1956.

Petra was a graduate of the University of Denver with a BA in English and Theatre. A consummate bibliophile, she designed all the book displays for booksellers Border's and Barnes and Noble, and wrote many of their book reviews. She moved back to Colorado as a young adult, where she raised her family. Petra felt most at home surrounded by the mountains, and some of her happiest times were out hiking the trails. Her great love of animals was evident, as she was never without a dog as her companion. An artist by nature, Petra continued her creativity by working on 3-dimensional puzzles, and designing and selling jewelry at local art fairs along with her daughter, Dara Stieren. The mother-daughter team loved their art-filled weekends traveling throughout the region. Petra was funny, empathetic, and warm. She is survived by her daughter, Dara Debra, as well as her sister, Ginger Speigel Lane, and brother, Jonathan Green Speigel, along with a whole host of loving cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be private. Any memorial contributions may be made to the COPD foundation at https://www.copdfoundation.org or the ASPCA at https://www.aspca.org