Elizabeth Garcia

Elizabeth Prisciliana Vigil Garcia (1944 to 2025) passed away at the age of 80 at her home. Liz lived a full life that defied odds, broke expectations, and brought joy to everyone lucky enough to know her. Wise and fiercely independent, Liz was beloved by many and always saw the very best in people.

Liz was born and raised in Denver, Colorado to loving parents, Pablo and Molly Vigil. Liz overcame a lot of adversity in her life and was proud of her humble beginnings. She raised her four children in Aurora, Colorado, where she built a home full of love, humor, and a carefully curated collection of Fiesta Ware. A lifelong learner, Liz became the first college graduate in her family when she graduated from the University of Colorado at Denver in 1990. Liz reminded us that perseverance has no age limit.

Liz is survived by her children, Valerie (Eric), DeAnna (John), and Michael (Susan), and son-in-law, Ralph; her siblings Julia, Max, Ernie, Marcella; and countless nieces and nephews. But it was her three grandchildren, Alexandra (Tyler), Rubi Sophia (Ben) and Christopher who were the love of her life. Liz lit up whenever her grandchildren entered the room and she bragged about them to anyone who would listen (and many who didn’t have a choice). Liz suffered the heartbreaking loss of her daughter, Naomi, three years ago. She is also preceded in death by her siblings, Paul, Andrew, John, and Patrick.

Liz had many passions, including genealogy (she traced our family-tree back to the late 1800s), scrapbooking, and her Fiesta-ware. Liz’s longstanding Game Group brought her treasured friends who became family.

Whether you knew her as Mom, Grandma, Tia Liz or simply Liz, you knew you were in the presence of someone truly special. We will miss her every day, but we find comfort in knowing her legacy lives on — in our stories, our stubbornness, and that she is reunited with her daughter, Naomi.