Obituary of Pat Villegas

Pueblo, Colorado resident and former Burlington, Colorado resident Pat M. Villegas, age 73, died Sunday August 20, 2006 at her home in Pueblo. Pat was born Maria Petra Martinez on August 2, 1933 to Luz (Garza) and Claudio Martinez in Brownsville, Texas. She was one of fourteen children born to this union. As a young girl she and her siblings worked across the southern states picking cotton. She would also help her mom cook tamales to help support the family. She also worked in the peanut factory in Poth, Texas. She also helped her mom raise her younger brothers and sisters while her mom worked. Her brother Pedro says she never complained and while raising her own children she was working three jobs. On May 20, 1963 she was united in marriage to Francisco T. Villegas in the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Poth, Texas. They had two children Mark A. and Tonya L. She and Frank moved to Burlington, Colorado in 1967. She worked at Skelly’s Restaurant and the Interstate House for twenty-five years. Many of those years she worked full time at both. She was a member of the St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Burlington. She enjoyed going to play bingo with her daughter Tonya, gardening and the time she spent with her grandchildren telling stories of her younger days. Preceding Pat in death were her parents, her husband Frank in 2003, her daughter Tonya in 1998. Also preceding were brother and sisters Ysidora, Claudio, Lupe, Jesusa, Elias, Ysidoro, Francisca, Augustin, and Simon. Surviving family members include her son Mark and his wife Elise and their daughters Danielle and Brittany of Pueblo, Colorado. Two sisters Juanita and her husband Clemente Courvier of Florsville, Texas, Dolores Davalos of Sundown, Texas. Two brothers Pedro Ramon Orasco and his wife Josie of Houston, Texas and Francisco Martinez and his wife Petra of San Antonio, Texas. Also, numerous nieces, nephews and special friends. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday August 25 at the St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Burlington at 11:00AM. A rosary will be said at 10:30AM at the church prior to the service. Father Ernest Bond, celebrant. Visitation for Mrs. Villegas will be Thursday, August 24, 2006 from 6:00 to 8:00PM at the Love Funeral Home. Memorials may be made in Pat’s name to the American Diabetes Association and may be left at or sent to the First National Bank in Burlington. Friends may send condolences and sign the register book for the family at www.lovefuneralhomes.com.