Tammatha Marie Koonce Fiala

Tammatha “Tammy” Marie Koonce Fiala was born in New Bern, North Carolina to Pete and Vicky (Archibald) Koonce, and passed away in Denver, Colorado on August 4, 2018 at age 48.

She is survived by her husband John Fiala, her daughter Rose, her parents Pete and Vicky Koonce, brothers, Tim Kientzle and his wife Beth, and Tony Koonce and his wife Kimberly and nephew Logan.

She is also survived by her father and mother-in-law, John Paul and Susan Fiala, her brothers-in law, James Garafolo and his partner Heather Torres and William Paul Fiala and his wife Jill Noel, her nephew William A. Fiala and niece Daisy Noel.

Tammy enjoyed creating small works of art, weaving textiles on a loom, painting, creating various jewelry with tiny delica beads, as well as cross-stitch and needlepoint works that decorate our home. She loved playing boardgames, especially train-related ones such as Iron Dragon (and the other crayon games), Boxcars, and Railways of the World. She helped to organize the “Puffing Billy” track for local gaming conventions, and even served on the Board of Directors of the Train Gamers of America for several years, which also meant we were storing a local library of train games in our already overcrowded house.

Tammy was also a dedicated and loving mother to our daughter, Rose. Overjoyed when she found out she was pregnant, she suffered through a rough pregnancy and left work for several years to take care of our daughter personally. She loved sharing her interest in arts with our daughter, who still enjoys making things.

Tammy also enjoyed travel, especially to her beloved Paris, where we were able to go together twice – once in the middle of a two-week work trip, and once when I went for a Drupal convention for work. She loved exploring the city with its museums and streets, and took a large number of photographs back before cameras rested in every phone and film had to be developed to be seen. I had hoped we could go a third time with the arrival of direct flights from Denver, but she was never well enough to travel once the leukemia took hold.

Finally, Tammy enjoyed watching medical dramas, especially the long-running Grey’s Anatomy. I always figured she was happy to see someone else in a hospital having troubles for a change. I’m a little sad that she will no longer be chasing me out of the room with another episode with someone’s internals bleeding all over them again.

The family will receive friends on Monday, August 13, 2018 from 6PM – 8PM at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3020 Federal Boulevard. The Memorial Service will be Tuesday, August 14th, 11AM at Church of The Advent, 678 King Street.

The family suggests Memorial Contributions be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Rocky Mountain Chapter, 720 South Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80246.

Please share your memories of Tammy and condolences with the family by signing the guestbook below.

Visitation: August 13, 2018 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Horan & McConaty - Central Denver
3020 Federal Blvd.
Denver, CO 80211

Memorial Service: August 14, 2018 11:00 am

Church of The Advent
678 King Street
Denver, CO 80204
720-250-8278