Natalie Anne Herrera

In Loving Memory and the Celebration of Life of Natalie Anne Herrera February 23, 1967 - January 12, 2016 Natalie Anne Herrera, 48, of Lakewood, Colorado passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, surrounded by family. Natalie had battled illness for a year and was diagnosed with and beat Hodgkins Lymphoma. Her doctors and nurses provided her great care and Natalie fought relentlessly, but unfortunately the side effects of chemo weakened her lungs and heart. Natalie was born on February 23, 1967 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the daughter of proud parents Robert Brown and Lorraine Albrecht. Natalie spent her early childhood living in Breckenridge, Colorado with her parents and younger sister Margaret. Natalie would often head to school with her skis over her shoulder, thrilled to have skiing as part of her elementary curriculum. Her mother Lorraine enjoyed taking to the slopes with young Natalie. When Natalie was in second grade, she moved with her family to Lakewood, Colorado. In third grade, Natalie started school at Bethlehem Lutheran School and later attended Lutheran High. Her love for and walk with Christ started at a precious young age and continued through the rest of her life. Natalie was also a wonderful big sister and role model to Margaret, as Natalie was brilliant, funny, adventurous, kind, and caring. Growing up and through adulthood, Natalie brought light to Margaret's life with her practical jokes, wise counsel, and her incredible sense of humor. During Natalie's teenage years she worked at King Soopers where she met her high school sweetheart, Tim Herrera. Tim, age 17, did buggies and favors at work for Natalie, age 16. Their first date came soon after and their sweet love affair was everlasting. Natalie and Tim eventually married July 1991. Their parents were thrilled to see their children tying the knot, knowing they had found ""the one"" in each other. Tim and Natalie would have celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this July. In 1989 Natalie earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Anthropology from the University of Colorado. While completing her undergraduate degree, Natalie worked part-time at the Boulder Post Office. She then went on to earn a Masters in Child Psychology, also from CU Boulder, in 1992. She worked for 20 years as a mental health professional, advocating for abused children in the social services system. Natalie later went to work for Jacobs Engineering Group and worked most recently at Redi Engineering Services. Natalie and Tim welcomed their beloved children Lauren Mary and Max Robert into the world on January 9, 1995 and April 8, 1997, respectively. Natalie enjoyed cheering on her daughter Lauren at her softball and tennis matches and her son Max at his soccer games. One of Natalie's favorite activities with Tim and her children was spending time at Grand Lake, Colorado, skiing and snowmobiling together in the winters and being on the lake and shopping with them during the summers. She could not have been prouder of Lauren, who is attending Colorado Christian University and preparing for the nursing program, and Max, who just completed his first semester studying business at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Lauren and Max were the world to Natalie, the source of overflowing joy in her life, and she was so fulfilled by being their mother as they grew up to be such outstanding young adults with bright futures ahead of them. As a faithful Christian woman, Natalie quietly served behind the scenes on altar guild for years as a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. At home, Natalie loved gardening and had the green thumb in the family. She also continued to enjoy skiing as an adult and was an avid Bronco fan, having grown up watching the Broncos with her dad. She enjoyed taking Yellowstone trips with her family, hosting regular family dinners and holidays, and had recently traveled with family to Spain and Ireland. Before Natalie fell ill, she and Tim had started their new life as empty nesters with the kids off at college, courting again with movie and dinner dates. Natalie will be remembered for her steadfast smile, gentle heart and compassion, strength, independence, unassuming intellect, humor and wit, faithfulness, one who never complained, a woman who quietly accomplished so much and loved so many, and always put her family first. She was a cherished wife and best friend, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, church member, colleague, and community member. With broken hearts, Natalie will be forever missed, but her family finds comfort in these trying times, knowing she has gone to be with the Lord and her smile is eternal. Natalie is survived by her loving husband, Tim Herrera; daughter Lauren Herrera; son Max Herrera; mother Lorraine Albrecht and husband, Charlie; father Robert Brown and wife, Charley; sisters Margaret Funk and husband, Steve, and Megan Romano and husband, Eric; brothers Charles Albrecht and wife, Cindy and David Albrecht and wife, Claudia; Tim's parents: Max & Phyllis Herrera; Tim's siblings; Joyce Lilly and her late husband Jim, Melissa Martinez and her husband Randy, Steve Herrera and his wife Bernadette, and Don Herrera; nieces Emily, Ashley, Stacey, Brittney, Aynslee, Saige, Andrea, and Julianna; and nephews Andrew, Ryan, Michael, Brandon, and David. A memorial honoring Natalie will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, located at 2100 North Wadsworth Boulevard Lakewood, CO 80214 on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 10 a.m., followed by a reception. Cremation is under the care of Horan & McConaty Funeral Service. Donations to: Mount Saint Vincent 4159 Lowell Boulevard Denver, CO 80211 https://www.msvhome.org/donate/ Please share your condolences with the family by signing the guestbook below.