Maria Sena

Born in Las Vegas, New Mexico to Crescencio Sena and Juanita Trujillo. She was the 4th born of 5 daughters: Jean Flores; Pita Ortiz; Rachel Lucero; Maria, Lilly Sena

Her father died from complications from a snake bite in 1930. Now a single mother during the depression, her mother set out to earn money to support her family. Maria was raised with the help of her oldest sister Jean, and later sent to live with her aunt Marcelina and uncle Johnny Montano. In her youth, Maria embraced her catholic faith and was deeply devout and religious. While chastised for her religiosity, she thought that one day she would become a nun. In her teenage years she worked various jobs in Las Vegas, with the most notable as a waitress in the Harvey House system of railway restaurants and Inns, adjacent to passenger railways throughout the southwest. There, she served business travelers and soldiers being transported across America in support of WWII. Being Latina, it was there where she first experienced the sting of racial discrimination. She was extremely sensitive. Teasing and lewd remarks were a source of emotional pain and suffering; occurring during a time where it was common to see signs on public facilities stating "No Dogs or Mexicans Served." Society's view was that it was ok to serve in those places, as long as one ‘knew their place."

In 1945 she moved to Denver with her sister Lilly, mother and stepfather, Celso Roybal. They lived in the five points neighborhood, a melting pot of diversity, where she worked at several different laundries. Several blocks away lived her future husband, Alfonso Roybal. She was invited to partake in a group excursion to Lookout Mountain and the two began dating immediately. After a brief courtship, they married on December 14, 1946. Several trips to/from Las Vegas in pursuit of employment, they returned permanently to Denver where they purchased a home on Lafayette St. for $2,800. 2 years later they sold that house for $3,100. It was in that home where her first son, Charles, was born in 1950.

To say Maria was fiscally conservative was an understatement. She was expert at scrimping, saving and accumulating money; eventually enough to purchase their next home at 1280 S. Vrain St. in 1951. No easy feat given the social climate at that time. They encountered roadblocks in being "allowed" to move into a new area of town due to redlining and discriminatory housing policies at that time. Her sister Rachel, husband Jay and their family moved to the neighborhood shortly thereafter. Once settled Maria dedicated herself to parenthood where she experienced the birth of her daughter Katherine in 1952 and Robert in 1956.

Always looking ahead, she decided that she wanted to live in a bigger house in suburbia, so she convinced her husband to take out a loan from the Gates Rubber Credit Union, to purchase land to build a home in Wheatridge. They became the general contractors to that home building project and its inherent problems what with building material theft and a cadre of subcontractors. She oversaw the building project through to completion while being a stay-at-home mom. Her children partook of a quality public education and exposure to families in a higher socioeconomic income bracket. She sewed, cleaned and cooked. A great salt & pepper cook, her meals were simple, nutritionally balanced, inexpensively prepared, and delicious. She cooked with passion. The meals were sublime; especially her chicken- (poultry in motion!).

To the degree that she could, she'd help with homework and transported kids to/from school, and her parish, Our Lady of Fatima for religious education, catechism, and prep for confirmation. She was the team mother for the Jeffco Transit Mix midget football team, the Mixers; preparing beverages and snacks for the players and officials. After her kids were more self - sufficient, she undertook employment with JC Penney @Villa Italia Mall, and later with Sears Westland in the credit dept. Not one being satisfied with her lot in life, she began taking classes at Red Rocks Community College to learn Office Occupations under the ‘secretarial science' curriculum.

She excelled by spending 4-5 hours each night in homework. She respected and valued her new found knowledge. She worked for various law firms around the time of the empty nest. During the middle 70's she became politically involved and hosted caucus at the local level and attended at the county level. She walked the precincts and campaigned for Pat Schroeder, Tim Worth and Gary Hart (oh well, nevermind). Over time she grew apart from her husband and they divorced in 1982. As part of her new found independence, she attended the Adelante Mujer Hispana Conference that year where she met many female Latina role models such as Dr. Alicia Cuaron (now a Sister) who encouraged her to network and to pursue additional educational opportunities. She worked for law firms, Mi Casa Resources, Art Barela, and E.T. La Fore. She took the Civil Service Exam, providing her a career with Federal Government. She worked in many agencies at the Denver Federal Center including the Office of Personnel Management, Minerals Management, and eventually retired from the Office of Inspector General in 2011 at the age of 85! (prior to retirement she was presented with an commedation from the FBI for uncovering some irregularities that lead to an investigation of fraud).

While living on Vrain St. she dabbled briefly with the acoustic guitar, piano, and steel guitar. She really had no hobbies per se, but absolutely loved to dance. Whether the style be S. American, Cuban, Salsa, Cumbias, SW Corridos, or simply good ol' American Country & Western, she held an energetic passion that kept her busy on weekends for quite a few years cutting a rug at local dance clubs. An avid reader, she was extremely knowledgeable in matters pertaining to finance the economic collapse of 2008. She'd always read an entire investment fund prospectus cover-to-cover to ensure the fund managers were not "crooks and rip-off artists." She read books about CEO's whose companies committed corporate malfeasance. She'd speak knowledgeably about the Bernie Madoff saga, World Comm, Enron, Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers just like a cable news pundit. Sometimes she would end such a conversation in mid-sentence, distracted by the TV, because it was time for either Dr. Oz or Judge Judy. Up until last spring, she expertly managed her home and yard. Inasmuch as those tasks were becoming too much for her in the last couple of years, she valued her health and knew the importance of proper diet and exercise. She'd make time to take long walks around the neighborhood...only to return and do more work outdoors. She modeled the "Zen of Weed Pulling." Unfortunately, the early signs of dementia were starting to show, but remained active and functionally competent.

She sustained a home fall in September of 2015, fracturing her C-2 vertebrae. She fought hard to recover and following surgery and discharge, attended rehab center for several weeks prior to her next foray into assisted living. She had her own apartment for 4 months and in January experienced a fall that fractured her hip and its subsequent replacement. She fell again in a new rehab facility, fracturing her elbow and requiring more hip surgery. Her discharge placed her in a new rehab in Morrison, CO. Over the course of the next 7 months she would diligently follow a rigorous physical and occupational therapy regimen and was eventually able to exceed all her OT/PT goals. She was a favorite patient there. The staff loved her and cared for her well. Unfortunately, the progression of the dementia, coincident memory loss kept her trapped. Conversations with fellow residents revealed that she wanted to go home. She very much longed to be with former family members from New Mexico. She'd ask "has anyone had seen my mother, or my sister Jean? I think they're visiting..." After brunch on Sunday October 9th she suffered a stroke and lapsed into a coma. Finally, God in His infinite grace released her spirit from her body. She could finally go home.

Maria is survived by her 3 children Charles Mauro (Roybal), Katherine Keller (Roybal), Robert Roybal. 7 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. Services will be held Thursday November 3rd, 11AM, Spirit of Christ Catholic Community, 7400 W, 80th Ave., Arvada, CO 80003

A contribution to Alzheimer's Association of Colorado is suggested in lieu of flowers. Thank you