Mildred Alberta Girard

Mildred Alberta (Dersch) Girard, 77, of Littleton, died unexpectedly on Sunday evening in her home while sleeping. She is survived by her loving husband Donald, her six children Joseph (Audrey) Girard, Elizabeth (Mario) Rodriguez, Julie (Jim) Brandt, Jim Girard, Don (Jennifer) Girard, Matthew (Karen) Girard, and 12 grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her brother George Dersch and sister Viola Van Housen. Milli was born January 7, 1929 to Arthur Dersch and Viola Calhoun in Ft. McLeod, Alberta, Canada, and moved to the U.S. with her mother in 1939. She studied with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet convent in St. Louis, MO in 1952-53. Milli's passionate zeal for her faith was evident to all who knew her. She married Donald Girard on June 25, 1955 in Chicago, IL. Her husband and family also lived in Brown Deer, WI and Jonesboro, AR before moving to Colorado in 1978, always feeling at home next to the Rocky Mountains. Her fulltime job was raising 6 children, and she relished the opportunity to see them all graduate from college. She and Donald recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with all of their children, grandchildren and friends. Her community involvement included Stephen Ministries, Recovery Inc., Birthline of Colorado, Retrouvaille, Marriage Encounter, and membership in Light of the World and St. Thomas Moore Catholic Churches. Hobbies included staying in touch with her grandchildren's activities, playing tennis, women's bridge group, Wordsworth Writing class, and recently publishing her autobiography, "Along a Dusty Road to a Clear Day", in 2004. Her activities led her to be the devoted friend to many. Viewing will be held at Horan & McConaty Funeral Home, 3101 South Wadsworth, Lakewood, CO, on Sunday, from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M., followed by a Rosary at 5:00 P.M. Funeral Mass will be held Monday at 10:30 A.M., Light of the World Catholic Church, 10316 West Bowles Ave., Littleton, CO. Interment Fort Logan National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Attn: Development Office, 6400 Minnesota Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63111 or St. Joseph's Indian School, Chamberlain, SD 57326.