Helen Doherty

Helen Mae Doherty, age 91, died peacefully on June 23, 2021 after a long courageous battle with cancer.

Born January 30, 1930 to Mary and Amadeo Cordova, in Trinidad, Colorado. She had a happy childhood in Trinidad, where her father was the town Sheriff.  Later, her father’s job as a prison guard took her to Canon City, Colorado where she spent the rest of her childhood and graduated from St. Scholastica Academy. She often told of how she loved attending school there with the nuns and her many friends.

At 17 she came to Denver and entered the nursing program at St. Joseph’s Hospital (where years later, her seven children would be born).  While at St. Joseph’s, she met James J. Doherty whom she married  in 1950. She had 6 children and was a homemaker, volunteering in the school clinics until 1963, when she returned to work as a nurse at Rocky Mountain Hospital in the intensive care unit. She worked there, had one more child during that period, and continued to work. She went back to college in 1974, and she received her masters degree in Occupational Health at Metro State College in 1984.  She then became an industrial nurse for the U.S. Post Office Bulk Mail Center. She worked there until she retired in 1995.

She enjoyed playing bridge with friends over the years and more recently, in her two bridge clubs, Blessed Sacrament and Risen Christ. She was also a proud member of the Mariposas. In addition, Helen was a member of Ports of Call and AAA travel clubs. Every chance she got she spent traveling to places all over the world. She was fascinated by the history and cultures of all the places she visited. On her last trip she took her daughters and son- in- law on a cruise down the Mississippi River and was looking forward to taking another trip this summer.

One of her passions was growing roses, dinner plate dahlias, and other flowers. People passing her home said they would go out of their way to go down her street and alley to look at her beautiful flowers.

She also had a love of reading which she instilled in all her children.  Her adult children went to check out books from her more often than from the public library. She was also an avid player of Ms. Pacman.  Cooking and trying out new recipes was also an interest of hers throughout the years.

Survivors include her seven children, Lynn (Mark) George, Diane (Rick) Pursell, Jim (Casi) Doherty, Debbie Wachsmuth, Nancy (Bill) Clark, Kathe Doherty, and Sharon Doherty. She is preceded in death by her husband, James Joseph Doherty, her brother Albert Cordova, and sister, Ruby Kyle as well as her son in law, Raymond Wachsmuth.  All of her children presently reside in Colorado.

A Rosary will be held at Horan & McConaty 1091 S. Colorado Blvd. on July 14th at 5:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be held at The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on 1530 Logan St. at 10:00 a.m. on July 15th.  The internment will be held at Fort Logan on July 15th at 1:00 p.m. in Staging Area A.  There will be a gathering for relatives and friends afterward. The location and time to be announced.