Angelina Savard

Angelina Savard, surrounded by family in her home in Lakewood, Colorado, passed away from her short, hard-fought, eight-month battle with cancer on March 25, 2023 at the age of 78. Angelina was born on October 2, 1944, to parents Aurelio and Miquelita Apodaca, she was raised in Las Vegas, New Mexico where she lived until her early twenties. She attended New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, prior to moving to Albuquerque. In Albuquerque, Angelina worked at the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office. She met her husband, Ray, in Albuquerque when she was 28 years old and they married on May 22, 1973, a marriage of nearly 50 years that blessed them with 4 children. Her focus throughout their marriage was to be the best wife and mother she could possibly be. She balanced taking care of her children with her professional life, working for a variety of companies, eventually settling into a position with Denver Water, where she played an integral role with their Property Management division for nearly 20 years before retiring.

She is survived by her husband Ray, sisters Donna, Julie, Nora, three children–Chris (and his wife, Ruth), Miqui-Renee (and her husband, Zeb), Chandler (and his wife, Kelly)–and her ten grandchildren: Rory, Caleb, Cameron, Noah, Chyler, Zachary, Caine, Breckin, Lucas, Logan. She has joined her deceased son, Marcus Ray, as another beautiful angel in heaven. At the core of Angelina’s heart and soul, she was a mother and care-giver. Not only were her children blessed to call her “Mom”, her grandchildren blessed to call her “Abuela,” but she cared and provided for dozens of her children’s friends and acquaintances so genuinely and deeply that they all considered her an honorary mother as well.

At our weekly family dinners, she’d often order any meal with salmon, and always order dessert to share with her grandchildren. She’d offer to have her grandkids stay at their house for weekend sleepovers, take the kids for walks, collect rocks along the way, and watch them play on the neighborhood playground. Of all her characteristics and personality traits, her selflessness, genuine care and concern for others, and maternal instincts will endure in the hearts of those she met for decades to come. She appreciated beautiful in every form and wanted to share that beauty with those she loved—she never missed an opportunity to enjoy or capture a photo of a beautiful sunset or sunrise. When we see a beautiful sunset, we’ll know it’s our Angelina shining down on us from heaven, we will miss her contagious laugh, and we’ll never hear another, “Opa-lay” or “Bon-jun-ji”.

Everyone who knew Angelina loved her dearly, our hearts swell with her memory, and she will be sorely missed by all.

Please send all gifts, donations in her memory, or flowers to Horan McConaty c/o Ray Savard.  Please share memories and condolences with Angelina's family by signing the Tribute Wall.