Claramae Cribari

Claramae Cribari

May 3, 1925 - November 20, 2017

Denver, Colorado

Claramae Cribari, a devoted mother, avid bridge player and community volunteer, died peacefully November 20 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver surrounded by her children. She was 92.

Born in Watrous, Saskatchewan, Canada, she was a daughter of the late Luella Benson and Earle Cleaphas Caza. A graduate of University of Saskatchewan in Home Economics and Dietetics, she received a fifth-year scholarship to intern at the former Colorado State Hospital, in Pueblo as a dietitian, where she earned the nickname "Zed." It was there, on a chance day in the cafeteria, that she met Dr. George Paul Cribari, MD. They were married on November 2, 1949 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, after he wrote to her every day for a year and called frequently. The couple returned to Pueblo after a honeymoon drive from Canada.

A resident of Pueblo for 60 years, she moved to Park Place in Denver in 2010 and then to Balfour at Riverfront Park, where she lived independently - something on which she prided herself. She was known as a sharp bridge player and enjoyed afternoon foursomes with her friends around the card table, a good Bronco game and a nightcap of Canadian rye.

Her Canadian roots were always at her core. She was fond of recalling her childhood in Kelowna, British Columbia, visits to Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies and playing curling and badminton. She wore pearls like the queen and told a story of meeting Canada's current prime minister Justin Trudeau as a youngster trick-or-treating in her sister's neighborhood in Ottawa. As proud as she was of her native country, she became a US citizen on June 18, 1959.

After the death of her husband, she remained in Pueblo where she raised her five children. She was a communicant of the Shrine of St. Therese for as long as she lived in Pueblo and a member of the Theresians, an all-women's volunteer organization. She was a former member and director of the Tournament Bridge Club for St. Mary Corwin Hospital and Shrine of St. Therese. She was a member of the St. Mary Corwin Hospital Medical Auxiliary for 33 years. Her volunteer activities included Meals on Wheels and hearing testing in the public schools. She was recognized by both Theresians and St. Mary Corwin for her many years of service. She also served as president of her condo association.

She is survived by her children, their spouses and seven grandchildren: Lynne Cribari and Richard White and their daughter Madison of Cherry Hills, CO; Christopher Cribari and Dawn Cribari and their daughter London of Greenville, NC; Jim Cribari and Colette Wieck Cribari and their children Adam, Cole and Kelsey of Superior, CO; GP Cribari of Spain and Lu Cribari and David Reid of New York City and their son Jonathan of Brooklyn, NY, and Andrew and his wife Sophia Wang of Clifton, NJ. She also has surviving nieces and nephews living in Canada.

Her funeral will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, November 27, at Mother of God Catholic Church, 475 Logan Street, Denver, CO 80203. Interment will be private.