Wilma Ruiz Obituary

WILMA ANN RUIZ Wilma Ann (Ricottone) Ruiz passed away peacefully on July 19th, 2025, in Centennial, Colorado, after a seven-year journey with dementia. Still, to the end, Wilma maintained her dry sense of humor and kind spirit, which endeared her to everyone she met and will live on in our fond memories of her. Wilma was born April 18, 1933, to Bioggio and Santina Ricottone in Aguilar, Colorado. She and her husband of 58 years, Peter Ruiz Jr., lived in Trinidad, Colorado, where she attended Trinidad State Jr. College and raised four children. She was a longtime member of the Holy Trinity Catholic church and proprietor of the Dairy Queen in town for many years. Wilma lived a full life, maintaining membership in P.E.O. Chapter J, playing in several Bridge groups, volunteering alongside Pete at the Trinidad Welcome Center, traveling, and, most significantly, nurturing close relationships with her family and friends. Wilma was survived by her children Celine Ruiz, Mandy (Ruiz) Swartley and her husband Ed, Larry Ruiz and his wife Marit; granddaughters Tammi (Swartley) Schwartz and her husband Dan, Amber (Swartley) Takacs and her husband Josh; great grandchildren Zachary Schwartz, Zoey and Haylee Takacs; six nieces and nephews-Paul Malano and his wife Frances, Michael Ricottone and his wife Jan, Paul Briggs and his wife Jude, Chuck Thomas, Rick Wells and Linda Swartz; five great nieces and nephews-Jennifer (Malano) Pasquale, Jamie (Malano) Alva and her husband Art, Justin Malano and his wife Heather, Jeremy Begley and his wife Annamarie and Joy Begley. Wilma was preceded in death by her husband, Pete Ruiz Jr., and daughter Mary Ruiz; twin brother William "Buddy" Ricottone and brothers Paul and Tony Ricottone; sisters Josephine Briggs, Jenny Thomas, Carolyn Malano, Theresa Reynolds, and Mary Ricottone. A Rosary service and Funeral Mass to honor Wilma's life will be held on Monday, July 28, 2025, at 12:30 PM and 1:00 PM, respectively, at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 135 Church Street, Trinidad, CO 81082. Interment to immediately follow at Trinidad Catholic Cemetery. "...Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it..." -Henry Scott-Holland. "Death Is Nothing At All.