Naomi S. Pirog

Naomi Shirley Coffin was born in Denver, Colorado on March 5, 1926 to Ruth (Woeber) Coffin and George Coffin, Jr. She had one older brother, George Coffin, III and a younger sister Patricia. Naomi was three years old when her father passed away, leaving her mother Ruth with three young children to care for. Ruth was an amazing woman and worked hard to keep her family together. The family lived at 666 South Pearl in Denver. Ruth later married Addison Hackstaff, and Naomi formed a close relationship with Addison, as he was the Dad she never had growing up. Naomi attended St. Francis De Sales Catholic elementary school and graduated in 1944 from Immaculate Conception Cathedral High School. In January 1945 Naomi met the love of her life, Louis R. Pirog at Evergreen Lake, Colorado. The couple met while ice skating...legend is, Naomi was the better skater of the two! Things must have been 'hot' on that ice, because they were married six months later. On July 7, 1945, Naomi and Corporal Louis R. Pirog were united in marriage at the Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception in Denver, Colorado. Naomi's sister Pat stood up with her for the wedding'and Pat later married Lou's brother, Fred Pirog. The two families remain close to this day. On August 3, 1946, Naomi and Lou started their family with the birth of the first of their six children; Louis Richard Jr. (Rick), Kathleen (1948), Cynthia (1950), Thomas (1954), James (1956) and Michael (1962). Naomi was a very busy woman! Naomi raised her children with wit, humor, compassion, acceptance and most of all love. She somehow made each and every child feel that they were her 'favorite''but really they were all her favorite. She could be tough (she had to be!) but she was quick to forgive and she loved to laugh. Naomi loved and honored her husband Lou for 66 years, and showed us all by her example that marriage is not always a straight and easy trip but well worth a few bumps along the way. She was his 'Nonie'. Naomi and Lou shared a love of golf and spent many hours after Lou retired playing their favorite game. She had a competitive spirit and loved watching sports - especially if her children or grandchildren were involved. Lou and Naomi were able to visit Hawaii and Alaska in retirement, they were always together. As her children married, Naomi welcomed her son-in-laws and daughter-in-laws with the same love and joy that she showed her children'and oh how she loved her grandchildren. She leaves behind ten grandchildren; Michelle, Adriane, Tony, Todd, Nick, Jackie, Matt, Erica, Zach and Alexandra. There are also five great grandchildren (so far); James, Sydney, Addison, Ronin and Serafina. She taught us all many things, and she meant something special to everyone that knew her. I learned from her that it is more important to play (with your children or a round of golf) than it is to dust your living room. She taught me what to do when a baby has a fever and how to make great turkey gravy. She showed us by example that it is better to laugh than it is to cry'even better'laugh until you cry. She was kind to everyone she met and she lived with joy in her heart. She was the most patient woman I have ever known. We lost Naomi from our world on Friday, August 26 after many months of sickness and pain. She showed us just how brave and tough she was as she endured the trips in and out of the hospital. She never complained, and she could always muster a smile no matter how sick she was or badly she felt. We will all miss her and her love. We will miss her hats, her smile and her laugh. But even though we will miss her, we will never forget her, for she touched each of our lives in a special way'and a little piece of her lives on in each of our hearts. I believe she would want us to remember her with laughter, not tears'joy instead of sorrow. She would tell us that she loved us, and she would want us to hold on to our happy, fun memories of her. She wouldn't want us to fuss or fret or worry. She would tell us to go eat chocolate cake'and eat a piece for her. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, 11:00 A.M., at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 5303 East County Line Road (one block to the west of Holly Street), in Centennial, Colorado. Memorial contributions may be made in Naomi's name to The Whiz Kids, 5500 East Yale Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80220. Please share your memories of Naomi and condolences with her family by signing the guestbook.