Margaret Oliver

Margaret Cecilia Oliver, age 81 years, died at St. Joseph’s Hospital on Saturday, April 3, 2021 after a brief illness.

Margaret was born on September 25, 1939, in Denver, CO. Margaret lived in Denver until she and her husband Berry bought their first home in Aurora after their first children, twin daughters, were born in 1960.  Margaret lived in this home for 60 years. Margaret worked at home raising their 11 children until her youngest went to school in 1981. At that time, Margaret began to work in the St. Therese Catholic School office. Margaret continued to work at St. Therese School for 39 years until her brief illness began a week and a half before her death. In addition to working at the school, Margaret was an active member of the St. Therese Catholic Church.

Margaret’s survivors include 10 of her children: Rita (Mike) Garcia, Roberta Wilson, Richard (Michelle) Oliver, James (Angie) Oliver, William (Billie) Oliver, Rosemarie (Ron) Ford, Ann Anderson, Mary Coffman, Kevin Oliver, and Tracy (Brad) Hedenskog.

Margaret is also survived by 25 grandchildren: Shawn Patrick Oliver, Christine (JJ) Pittman, Jason (Kristin) Starcher, Theresa (Tyler Lee) Starcher, Justin Olson, Shelby Gallegos, Jessie (Ben) Kauffman, Joanna Fellows, Ryan Oliver, Amanda (Damion) Cope, Berry Oliver, Charles Oliver, Daniece (Ed) Rainville, Casey (Tianna) Love, Garrett Love, Jerrade Oliver, Kyle Love, Kory Love, Chessna (Andrew) Green, Danielle (Jacob) Sawyer, Emily Stephen, Joshua Stephen, Laura (Darrell) Murray, Grace Hedenskog, and Anna Hedenskog.

In addition, Margaret is survived by 41 great grandchildren: Hunter Pittman, Austin Pittman, Cooper Pittman, Bryan Starcher, Makyra Starcher, Jenna Bressler, Brodey Shomshor, Brayden Lee, Camden Lee, Savannah Acerbi, Rilynn Acerbi,Willow Cope, Daphne Oliver, Chloe Oliver, Phoebe Oliver, Alonna Rainville, Kaitlyn Rainville, Madyson Love, Landon Love, Kaydence Love, Koleton Love, Sara Oliver, Tristyn Love, Jamisyn Love, Dakota Roby, Landon Green, Katelyn Green, Hunter Green, Brooklyn Worley, Kynliegh Klaus, Candler Sawyer, Maribeth Sawyer, Ollivander Sawyer, Isaiah Rajnoor, Junior McKinnon, Ja’Niya Jackson, Autumn McKinnon, Brayden McKinnon, Seth Murray, Nic Murray, and Chloe Murray.

Margaret is also survived by several loving cousins, nieces and nephews.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents John and Theresa McCarthy, her husband Berry Oliver, her son Christopher Oliver, her sisters Eileen (Tom) Sullivan and Frances (Raymond) Smith and great granddaughter Sonoma Chapman.

Margaret was very active, healthy and independent! Prior to covid restrictions, Margaret was still working out at aerobics classes! She loved to work in her yard and garden. Margaret enjoyed mowing her own lawn, trimming her trees, picking raspberries from her numerous raspberry bushes and tending to her many beautiful flowers. Margaret spent as much time as she could at her cabin in the mountains and loved hiking around to enjoy the wild life and wild flowers. Just as she had with all of her children while they were growing up, Margaret actively participated in her youngest granddaughters’ Grace and Anna’s activities, cheering at sporting events, attending presentations, and supporting at school events. Margaret frequently joined her family on boating excursions, road trips, picnics, hikes, sleep overs, and jaunts to the ice cream shop! Margaret loved to play games with her family and would often say, “Oh, just one more game!” even at midnight! Margaret particularly enjoyed Chinese Checkers and won nearly every time! Margaret was an avid reader and always had at least one book in which she was engrossed! Margaret enjoyed meeting her good friends from Aurora and Estes Park for meals out.

Margaret always loved to bake banana bread, coffee cake, and cookies, especially with her youngest granddaughters. She often shared her goodies with her friends, her family, her school family and her neighbors. Margaret was generous and took care of everyone. She greeted her Waste Management driver with a treat every week and he would take “Grandma’s” trash cans back up to the house for her! When she would go out to eat at restaurants, she made sure to continue Berry’s tradition of leaving a candy with the tip for the server. Every time she went to the cabin, she had a special treat for the rangers at the ranger gate!

In her younger years Margaret also enjoyed sewing and crocheting. Margaret frequently made clothes, costumes and doll/Barbie clothes for her children. Years ago, she made matching Jolly Green Giant/Sprout costumes for herself and Tracy and she made darling matching bird costumes complete with brightly colored felt feathers! Margaret made “smiley face” pillows for many of the kids for the long rides to the cabin! She made dolls including “Campbell Soup” dolls, “Cabbage Patch” dolls, and shoe holders with doll heads for her older daughters.

A public viewing will be held on Sunday, April 11, 2021 at Horan and McConaty from 1 to 5 pm. This is an ideal time to meet with the family, express condolences and share wonderful memories. A mass of Christian burial will be on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 5:30 pm. Due to COIVD restrictions, seating at the mass is limited and services will conclude at the end of the mass.

Margaret was devoted to St. Therese Catholic Church where she was a parishioner since 1960. Margaret’s other passion was St. Therese School. Margaret worked in the school office once her youngest daughter started full day school in first grade and continued to work at the school for 39 years. She loved working with the children and the families. Many families stated that Margaret was their first introduction to the school and the reason they chose to send their children to St. Therese. Margaret knew every student and parent by name. She always made herself available to prospective parents to welcome them into the St. Therese family and so they could provide their children “a gift of a lifetime.” To honor this devotion to St. Therese, the family is asking for donations to St. Therese in lieu of flowers. You may use the following link to make donations :https://bit.ly/3gbgVP5