Alvina Lujan Crouse

Born in Greeley, Colorado on November 12, 1946, Alvina Garcia Crouse was the second daughter of Matias Rascon Garcia & Matilda Trujillo Garcia. Carolina, is the eldest, then came Alvina, Anna, Matt (Matias Joseph) & Ingrid Tias Garcia. Matt succeeded Alvina in passing on January 2013.

The older 3 girls had the unique opportunity to see the I-25 highway being built in their own back yard, as they lived at 2100 Bryant Street, and had a remarkable view of downtown Denver, up the street from Bears Stadium, now know as Mile High Stadium.

When Mom & Dad had the opportunity to move into a nicer part of town, they moved to the Cheltenham area of Denver, a few blocks from Sloans Lake. There, Matt and later, Ingrid, only knew that house as their home. Alvina, as a child would always say “I’m going to be a principal someday.” And, through hard work, help, and determination, she became the principal that would set examples of what other principals should and could be doing for their children. The Children were her first priority always!

For Alvina, the children from the disenfranchised areas and poorer parts of town were always her mission. She wanted to give them an opportunity to learn, experience, and become successful in whatever endeavor they chose. Anyone who knew Alvina, knew that single handedly, of course with help from her husband, Charles “Buzz” Crouse started the Inner-City Christmas Party for Greenlee Elementary School students. Over the years, the Inner City Christmas Party expanded to accommodating more than 600 Denver Public School students, who would have a great Christmas party with elves, providing food and drinks, games and Carolers singing songs and providing numerous other forms of entertainment until the Big Guy, Santa started handing out gifts. Every child left with at least one gift, plenty of food, drinks and treats, and the memories of a great party with Santa and friends. 

Once she became a principal, she recognized the need for ALL children to have functional, safe and useable play ground equipment at school. In the poorer parts of town, the play ground equipment was generally not functional and much less safe. In order to insure that the children at Garden Place Elementary, located on the SE corner of the I-25 & I-70 exchange, had usable equipment, she started a campaign to get new equipment for the kids. DPS wasn’t able to provide money for the project, so she went to the School of Architecture at the University of Colorado, Denver campus and worked with the students to design new equipment that would be safe, durable and functional.

That project was aided by so many, but John Modic, was one of the strongest supporters of her school projects. Thank you, John! She knew you would always come through for the kids. Alvina was a loving and supportive mother to all of her own children and would do anything for them. If they needed her, she dropped what she was doing to be there for each of them. She raised three wonderful children, John, Lisa, and Vincent while getting her Master’s Degree from DU and her additional certification to become a Principal. In her community she helped everyone and no one was a stranger. In her faith and commitment to St. Thomas More she provided anything the Priests and “The Capuchin Poor Clare Nun’s” needed. Her weekly mission was to buy, provide them food, donations and beautiful flowers. She hosted family, friends, Priests, and anyone in need of a meal, a home for shelter, an ear to listen and prayer for so many. Everyone was a dear friend to her! She wanted everyone to feel welcome and special. She found the goodness in each person she met throughout her life.

She is survived by her children John M. Lujan, Vincent Lujan and Lisa Traylor, her grandchildren Broden (John’s son), Haley, Samatha & Gabriela (Lisa’s children). Unfortunately, John and Patti, his former wife, lost Lauren, their daughter in March 2000.

Alvina Crouse was very loved and adored. She will forever be in the hearts of so many and will be dearly missed.

To honor Alvina's wish of having Father Israel Gonsalves celebrate her Mass, it will be held on Friday, May 2, 2025 at 3:30pm. 

Visitation, Rosary and Burial at Fort Logan National Cemetery will be held on Thursday, May 8, 2025, starting with Visitation at 10:30am, Rosary at 12pm, and Burial at 1:30pm.