Esther Renate Candelaria

Funeral services for lifelong Cortez resident Esther Renate Candelaria will be held on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Margaret Mary Church located at 28 East Montezuma Cortez, Colorado 81321. There will be a Rosary before the service at 9:30 a.m.

Esther was born on November 22, 1936 in Ettlingen, Germany the daughter of Otto and Elsa (Becker) Heinz. She passed away on Thursday September 29, 2022 at her home, at the age of 85 with her family by her side.

Esther met the love of her life, Saturnino Candelaria Jr. in Germany while he was stationed in the United States Army in 1959. They had their first child, a son, Thomas Michael Candelaria. When Thomas was 4 months old Esther moved to Cortez, Colorado. After they moved Esther and Junior had their second child, a daughter, Rebecca Vivian Candelaria-Higgins and a couple years later they had their last child a son, Dennis Martin Candelaria. Esther cleaned the post office and also worked at the Cortez Middle School in the cafeteria. She spent her time being a devoted mother and grandmother. Esther was also very devoted to the Catholic Church and served as a Catholic Daughter for many years.

Surviving Esther are her children, Thomas Candelaria (Deana) of Kimberly, Idaho; Rebecca Higgins of Cortez, Colorado, her grandchildren, Nichole (Kelly) of Del Norte, CO; Shylane (Kenneth) of Cortez, CO; Kaylee (Cesar) of Twin Falls, ID; Colton (Faith) of Cortez, CO; Tierra of Socorro, New Mexico; Shawnie (Monica) of Grand Junction, CO and Thomas Jr. of Boise, ID and her great-grandchildren, Allie, Lea, Degan, Brynlee, Pilate, Christian, Julian, and Aubrey; along with many other family members and friends.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Saturnino Candelaria Jr.; and her son Dennis Candelaria.