Lilia Rosalind Caballero

Lilia Rosalind Flores Caballero (Lala, Elilalia), age 92, died at Bethany Nursing Home, Lakewood, Colorado on Saturday, June 18, 2016. Advanced dementia and over twenty years of Type 2 diabetes finally wore her down. Lilia Flores was born in Florence, Colorado on February 12, 1924. She was the oldest daughter of Frank (Genaro) Flores and Maria de Jesus Camarena. When she was a toddler, her family moved to Leadville, Colorado, where her father was a miner at the Climax mines. She was raised in Leadville with her brother and sister through high school. Lilia lived briefly in Santa Barbara, California during the 1940’s. She was married for a short time to Gilbert Caballero. She returned to Denver and resided in the West Washington Park neighborhood for most of her life. Lilia worked for Hannock Cleaners in Denver as a presser and seamstress for almost 40 years. Lilia raised one son on her own and was the primary caretaker of her elderly mother for many years. When she retired, she continued her work as a seamstress, from her home. Her hobbies included gardening, sewing and all types of needle work. Lilia was an avid bingo player. Her family called her a bingo professional. She was also a long-time, active parishioner at St. Francis de Sales Church. In 2003, a combination of Alzheimer’s disease and Type 2 diabetes made it necessary for Lilia to move out of her home of 35 years and she took up residence at the Gardens at St. Elizabeth Assisted Living in Denver. She enjoyed nine years in her apartment at the Gardens. Three years ago, she fell, broke an ankle and never walked on her own again. She lived her final years at Bethany Nursing Home. Her nieces, Teri and Kathy, were at her bedside when she passed away. She is predeceased by her son, Larry (Lawrence, Lorenzo) Caballero (2005), younger sister, Esther Chavez (2000) and older brother, Leo (Leopold) Flores (1985). Lilia is survived by her nieces Teri (Therese) Chavez, Kathy (Kathryn) Rittenhouse, Michelle Flores Martinez and Mona Flores Luna. She has many Flores cousins in Leadville, Colorado. She also has several great nieces and nephews in Colorado. Lilia was a very hard-working woman who made time to laugh a lot and enjoy life. Our sweet auntie will be missed. In lieu of flowers, donations in the memory of Lilia can be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Colorado Chapter, 455 Sherman St., Suite 500, Denver, CO 80203.