Tribute

Gilbert, El Rey de la familia, was a loving husband, father, and son who left his earthly life and crossed over Thanksgiving Day, 11/25/2022 in Loveland, CO. He was born and raised in Black Lake, NM to his loving mother Cecilia Candelario and Mardoqueo Tafoya. He moved to Denver, CO at a young age where he eventually met and married the love of his life Rosaliene Orlanda Tafoya. They spent 60 beautiful earthly years together, there were ups and downs but Gilbert's unconditional and unwavering love for her was consistently apparent up until his last day. Gilbert was funny, charismatic, loving, and very genuine in his actions. When he loved someone he loved them greatly. His presence in any room he walked into was felt. He was warm, kind and compassionate and loved to gamble, sing, joke around and play the guitar, He saw life with a fun filled outlook, always turning the bad to good. Unfortunately, the past few years took a hard turn for Gilbert, he had too many losses of loved ones simultaneously and too fast. He lost his loving son Juan Serveriano Tafoya (5/5/2016), in the following years he lost several siblings, in-laws, nieces, nephews, his loving son Paul Gilbert Tafoya (2020) and his loving daughter Deanna Lynn Tafoya (7/4/2021). He struggled after all that, but he was a warrior and continued to live to make it to his 90th birthday. He left behind his loving wife Rosaliene Orlanda, loving daughters Sheree Tanya (Alfredo Gonzalez), Jubie Lee (Portfilio Quezada), Monica Doreen (Gustavo Fernandez) and his favorite daughter-in-law, Josafine Rosella (Sanchez - wife of Juan Tafoya) along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His loss is greatly felt however, his loving memories will always be held in the hearts of the ones he touched and whom had the honor of loving and truly knowing him. Rest in power sweet Gilbert. We the family are also thankful that even in Gilbert's passing he chose to help others on this earth plane by donating his earthly body to Science Care for studies to help mankind and in return also contributed to Mother Earth with the planting of a tree in Gilbert's name in a National Forest in honor of Gilbert's one-year heavenly birthday and contributions to Science in loving care of all humanity.

Friends & Family

Miche Leno Duran (Dana), Chuey Enrique Duran, Amando Rey Duran (10/15/2011), Alicia Orlanda Williams (Elicerio) (Steven), Zack Hererra, Javier Quezada, Joaquin Quezada (Monica), Derrick Kiko Tafoya (Joseph Lucero), Tanika Nichole Tafoya (Danny Barraja) , Tanya Portugal (Melendez) (Robert), Nicholas Salinas, Dante Rico Tafoya-Ecker (Adele), Sierra Perez (Tafoya-Fernandez) (Humberto), Gustavo Nico Tafoya-Fernandez (Dusti).