Lillie Colunga Mendez

Lillie Colunga Mendez  passed away September 3, 2017.  Lillie was born January  1, 1922 in Las Animas, Colorado to Eleno and Antonia Gonzalez Colunga.  In 1924 her family moved to Grand Junction, Colorado.

On January  1, 1941, she married  Joe Arroyo.  The later divorced.  They had four children, Estella (deceased), Elizabeth Lester, Ogden, Lila May, Loveland, CO. and Charles (AnnaJane) Arroyo, Sunset.  Lillie moved to Ogden in August 1949, where she worked at El Zarape Cafe, her mother’s Mexican restaurant.  It was at the café that she met her future husband, Jose Reyes Mendez.  They were married in November , 1950; they had five children, Thomas Mendez, Layton; Joe (Loretta) Mendez Jr., Layton, Lewis (Olivia) Mendez, San Jose, CA., Marion (Jose Luis) Garcia, Ogden, and Lily (Larry) Magruder, Hooper.  Lillie had 17 grandchildren, 31 great grand children, and 9 great great grandchildren.

Lillie has known Christ as her personal Savior since 1934.  She was a member of Zion Assembly of God since 1934, and she served as Secretary and Treasurer for 17 years, was active in the women’s sewing circle, Women’s Ministry and chaired the tamale fundraisers.

Lillie retired in 1986 from the U.S. General Service Administration as Custodial Supervisor after 19 years of service.  She received two employee awards; ten year service award (1977), fifteen year service award (1982).

A special thanks to Hospice of Utah in their assistance in caring for Mom and to our sisters Marion Garcia and Liz Lester for years of devoted care and to Jose Luis for his support.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 9, 2017 at 11 am at Aaron's Mortuary, 496 24th Street.  Viewings will be held Friday evening, September 8, 2017  from 6 to 8 pm and on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 am prior to the service at the mortuary.

Interment, Lindquist's Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd, Ogden, Utah.

Lillie’s favorite chorus was “Hasta El Fin Te Seguire Senor,” “Lord I’ll Follow You To The End.”