Colleen Rita Ruby

Colleen Rita Ruby, 93, died peacefully at home on Thursday, December 5, 2019.

Colleen was born January 4, 1926 in Stanley, Wisconsin, to Stanley ""Ed"" and Mary (Ciolkosz) Smoczyk. Raised on a dairy farm through the Depression years, Colleen attended a two-room country grammar school (walking miles in all weather conditions), and later helped milk the cows each morning before walking into town to attend high school classes. After graduating in 1944, Colleen joined the War effort in Chicago with her sister Ruth and a cousin, assembling radios for the Navy at the Zenith Corporation.

After the war, Colleen heard a radio broadcast from Denver-""the Queen City of the Plains""-describing the snow-covered Rocky Mountains, and was hooked. She soon moved west and worked at the Daniels & Fisher Co. while staying with an aunt. In Denver, she met husband Jim, and raised five children with him. A hard worker all of her life, she worked as a server at the historic Tea Room in the Denver Dry Goods Co. and later served as banquet server for several hotels and catering companies in Denver. After retirement, Colleen and Jim enjoyed traveling across North America, from Hawaii to Alaska, Canada to New England, and to see family in Wisconsin and Durango. A parishioner of Denver's All Saints Catholic Church since its inception, she served the Lydias group in her later years, faithfully providing the tastiest cookies and cakes for bake sales, even after she was diagnosed with celiac disease.

Survivors include children Michael, Diane (Dr. Thomas Eckenrode), Durango, CO; Mark (Char), Loveland, CO; Rebecca Deyle, Englewood, CO; and Brian (Ruth), Denver, CO. Grandchildren include Lucas Deyle (Tricia Rhinehart), Wellington, CO; Carly (Michael) Martinez, Denver; and Marjorie Ruby, Denver. Colleen was preceded in death by husband James and infant son Greg, brothers Peter, Harry, James, and Robert, and sister Ruth.

A Rosary will be held December 11 at 7:00 pm, Horan & McConaty, 3101 South Wadsworth, Lakewood, CO. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held December 12, at All Saints Catholic Church, 2559 S. Federal Blvd, Denver, CO, at 11:00 am. Interment at Mt. Olivet at 1:00 pm. A private family gathering will follow at Colleen's residence.

Memorial contributions to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or the Parkinson's Foundation are welcome in lieu of flowers.

Rosary: December 11, 2019 7:00 pm

Horan & McConaty - SW Denver/Lakewood
3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd.
Lakewood, CO 80227

Funeral Mass: December 12, 2019 11:00 am

All Saints Catholic Church
2559 S. Federal Blvd.
Denver, CO 80219
303-922-3758

Graveside Service: December 12, 2019 1:00 pm

Mount Olivet Cemetery
12801 W. 44th Ave.
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033