Enedina Astorga Elizondo Stubbs

Enedina Astorga Elizondo Stubbs (Dena) passed away peacefully in her home at 106 years of age on March 15, 2024. She was born to Gregorio & Euphemia Sena Astorga on December 5, 1917 in Silt, Colorado. She graduated from North Denver High School in 1938, where she studied shorthand, bookkeeping and business courses. She was fluent in Spanish and English.

She was a great lady. A devoted wife. A wonderful mother, a grandma, a great grandma, and a great great grandma. She made all her family feel loved beyond belief. She was always in a great mood. Always laughing. Always giving. Always ready for a good time.

Grandma’s faith and determination were legendary, and she relied on both to see her through tough times. Dena became an orphan at the age of eleven and lost contact with her nine siblings when she was taken in by Uncle Dave and Aunt Annie in 1929. After searching for each other, Dena and her siblings were reunited in 1961. This wasn’t the only hardship she faced during her 106 years. A 1939 marriage ended in divorce, the union brought her two wonderful children. At the age of eight her son required open-heart surgery because of a heart defect. He was the first juvenile to survive open-heart surgery with the use of a heart-lung bypass machine. She raised her two children by herself working as a waitress. She arose early every morning, took the bus to work, worked the morning and lunch shift at Capri Italian Restaurant, returned home to tend to her children, then returned to the restaurant for the evening shift. This continued for many years until she met and married the love of her life.

Dena married Francis L. (Hap) Stubbs on October 5, 1962 in Elko, NV. She claimed that when they met it changed the course of her life for the better. After they married, Hap bought Dena a new home where she lived for the remainder of her life and referred to it as her “castle”. Her children and grandchildren recount fishing trips they’ve not forgotten thanks to grandma and grandpa. When grandpa became hard of hearing, his ear never tuned out the pitch of grandma’s voice no matter how small. It was a gesture of true love for all to witness.

Her home was a gathering place where she welcomed one and all. She was an excellent cook and there was always something good to eat whenever you arrived. There was nothing better than her buttered handmade tortillas, flaky from scratch apple pie, or chile verde. Grandma didn’t waste time, money, food, or any other item she could reuse. She made the most of every day waking early to say her prayers and then you’d often find her working in her yard and garden tending to her beautiful flowers, vegetables, and herbs. Grandchildren recall going through those flowers and bushes searching for Easter eggs and to find rolls of coins grandma saved all year just for them.

She was a strong, determined woman, short in stature, resourceful, resilient, sharp, and wily. She was endlessly curious and enjoyed learning new things. Unlike many of her generation, she embraced new technology and learned how to use it. A data entry job held for nearly 16 years at EMIAC Varian is evidence of her love of learning. She was fashionable and had a great sense of style and was especially particular about her hair. Perhaps this came from the days of modeling coats for Arent’s Fur where she was compensated with a winter coat of her own.

She was an active member of the Catholic Church; attended the local community center where she spent many hours enjoying lunch, cards, and other activities with her friends. Dena was named Woman of the Year for her volunteer work at both organizations, St.Therese Catholic Church and Midvale Senior Center.

We had great times with Grandma and are sad to lose her, but most of all are appreciative of the full, blessed life she lived. Her daughter Kathy expressed to many that caretaking for her mom helped her to see her as a person. Their closeness was special and they became known as the “two Grandmas,” a beautiful pair of white-haired women. They could often be caught giggling, singing songs, and sharing history together. May we all grow as close to our children as these two women.

Enedina was preceded in death by her spouse Hap; parents Gregorio and Euphemia Astorga; stepfather John Nelson; nine siblings Migel (Ceilia) Astorga, Theresa (Leo) Loya, Cora (John) Silverton, Paul (Angie) Astorga, Ralph (Mary) Astorga, Robert Astorga, Joseph (Guinevere) Astorga, Janet Nelson (or Barbara Jean Worley), Vera Nelson (or Muriel Audry Olsen who married John Rowley).

She is survived by her daughter Kathleen (Harlan) Thompson Cooper; son Arthur (Jo) Elizondo. Nine grandchildren Kevin Thompson, Kelly (Bret) Reimann, Dean (Paula) Thompson, Brandon Elizondo, Amy Granzin, Peter (Bonnie) Granzin, Butch (Ann) Cooper, Cathy (Dwaine) Frazier, Kim Wilcox. Numerous nieces and nephews.

Seventeen great grandchildren Ariana Elizondo, Amber (KC) Burns, Benjamin Reimann, Serene (Cameron) Swain, Jessica (Ricardo) Donosso, Trina (Tyson) Taylor, Joshua (Ali) Reimann, Rondi (Derek) Acker, Marissa Reimann, Jocylin Granzin, Marshall Granzin, Max Granzin, Austin, Carson, Zoey Cooper, Naomi Taylor, Michael Barfuss.

Twenty-three great great grandchildren Easton, Kaley and Jace Burns; Ryleigh, Morgan, Alexis, Hadley, Ellie and Britton Swain; Emerald, Lilian, Samantha, Max and Malakai Donosso; Connor, Colton and Caydence Taylor; Rowen and soon to arrive Jovi Reimann; Emery and Addilynn Acker; Logan Reimann, James Dean Wilcox.

Thanks to Dignity Hospice for their services.

The family extends their sincere gratitude to Shona Vernor, with Ashnell-Home Instead, who aided Kathy in the caretaking of her mother.

A visitation will be held 6:00-8:00 pm Friday, April 5, 2024 at Goff Mortuary, 8090 S. State St., Murray, UT with a recitation of the Rosary at 7:30 pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 11:00 am at St. Therese of the Child Jesus Catholic Church, 624 Lennox St., Midvale, UT., with a visitation at the church prior to services from 10:00-10:45 am. Interment to follow at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 275 U St., Salt Lake City. Please return to the church for a luncheon under the direction of the St. Therese Ladies Guild.