Maria Steen Obituary

Steen
Maria Sergia
(Guiral) Steen
February 25, 1930
January 2, 2024

Maria Sergia "MariSer or Mary" Guiral Steen passed away on January 2, 2024, in Colorado
Springs, Colorado. Mary was born in Zaragoza, Espana (SPAIN) on February 25, 1930, to
Francisco Guiral de Guinea and Margarita Fanlo Navarro. She was the eldest of four, with three
younger brothers Francisco (Paco), Jose (Pepe), and Jaime Jorge preceding her in death. Mary married Delano Steen on August 16, 1957, while he was stationed at an American Air
Force Base in Zaragoza. They had three children, James, Carolena, and Elizabeth (dec). Mary
is also the proud grandmother of four grandchildren Alexandra, Makenzie, Devin Anthony, and
Caitie, and a great-grandson, Odin. Mary was educated in Spain with a Master's degree and
then completed a PH.D. at the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1986. She was a teacher at
Benet Hill Academy and in School District 11 for many years before becoming a professor at the
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. For nearly three decades she taught students
about Spanish literature, language, and culture. She voyaged to Spain each year with graduate
students to study at the University of Madrid. Her enthusiasm for literature and the Spanish
language was undeniable. She was the author of many books including Ropa Limpia and El
Costurero Y Otros Cuentos. In her many worldly traveling adventures, she traversed dozens of
countries with her last trip out of the country in 2019 at the age of 89. Mary retired at the age of
91 as a Professor Emeritus. The admiration and respect she has from family, friends, and
colleagues are undeniable. She was loved for her determined feistiness and scholarly intellect.
It was hard not to love her or be humored by her. She will be celebrated on January 19, 2024 at 10 am at St. Mary's Cathedral in a memorial mass
followed by a private family burial.