Joyce G. Pacheco, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully in Brighton, Colo., after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 84 years old.
Born on Oct. 31, 1940, in Seven Mile Plaza (Monte Vista, Colo.) to Erminio and Anita Manzanarez, Joyce was the sixth of eight children. Joyce graduated from Monte Vista High School, attended Adams State College and received advanced training in accounting and business. On March 30, 1959, she married the love of her life, Eddie “Goog” Pacheco, and together they built a beautiful life in Monte Vista, where they raised their three cherished children: Mike, Denise, and Squeek. Eddie passed away in 2017.
Joyce dedicated over 40 years to the Bank of Monte Vista, where she rose to the position of Vice President. One of her greatest professional achievements was serving as Chair President of the Bank Administration Institute (BAI), a role she proudly held for many years before retiring.
In retirement, Joyce and Eddie Goog embraced life’s simple joys — camping, family time, and creative pursuits. Among their most treasured legacies was their devotion to rosary-making, a craft Eddie began and Joyce lovingly continued after his passing. With the help of her daughters and granddaughter, Joyce turned this passion into a rosary and jewelry business, finding solace and connection to Eddie in every piece she made.
Joyce’s Catholic faith was the foundation of her life. She prayed the rosary daily, lovingly naming each of her family members in prayer. She found happiness in time spent with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren. When she wasn’t crafting jewelry, she could often be found enjoying trips to the casino or simply cherishing moments with her family.
Despite her cancer diagnosis at age 82, Joyce faced her illness with incredible strength, enduring radiation and chemotherapy for nearly two years. Her family finds peace knowing she is now reunited with Eddie Goog and the many loved ones who passed before her, including the father she lost at just eight years old.
She is survived by her sister, Rosin Manzanares; her three children, Michael (Tana) Pacheco, Denise (James) Canaday, and Monique (Eric) Pfannenstiel; her 11 grandchildren, Holly (William) Booker, Matt (Carly Santi) Barbosa, Ashley (Tyler) Johnson, Curt (Ave) Barbosa, Samantha (Josh) Wagar, Lindsay (Brian) Meredith, Dominic Pacheco, Emily (Megi) Pfannenstiel, Marisa Pacheco, Tyler Pfannenstiel, and Chase Pacheco; 20 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; her brother-in-law, Ben (Edith) Maes, her sisters-in-law, Agnes (John) Hannah, Jackie (Greg) Brumley and Sandra (Allen) Gonzales as well as and many beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Erminio and Anita Manzanarez; her husband, Eddie Pacheco; her brothers, Claude Manzanarez and Earl Manzanares; and her sisters, Lela Marquez, Charlotte Belles, Gloria Marquez, and Edith Maes.
Services will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Monte Vista, with a Rosary on Thursday, March 6, at 7 p.m., followed by a Catholic Funeral Mass on Friday, March 7, at 10 a.m. Interment will take place at Monte Vista Cemetery. The family invites all to a reception following the burial at the Nazarene Church Gymnasium.
Joyce’s life was filled with love, faith, and family. She will be deeply missed but forever cherished in the hearts of those who knew her.
Rogers Family Mortuary of Monte Vista is in care of the arrangements. To leave online condolences, tributes, or words of comfort for Joyce’s family, please visit www.RogersFunerals.com.
