Lila C. Rivas, aka Lollipop, was born Candelaria Cruz Chavez in Lone Tree, Colo., on April 17, 1938, to Joe Bernabè Chavez and Juanita Martinez Chavez. She had one sister, Precilla, and six brothers: Bernie, Ray, Doro (Jean), Ted (Bonnie), David and Jerry.
She loved to share stories about living in Monte Vista, playing in a cow pasture, traveling around picking fruit while living in camps, playing softball and later ending up in Dragerton, Utah. She came to Pagosa often to visit family and that’s where she met a skinny “poco feito,” Lester, who later would become the love of her life.
Lila married Lester in Dragerton, Utah, on Sept. 12, 1959, came on her honeymoon to Pagosa, and never left. They had four children: Rose (Danny), Jeff (Tanya), Anthony (Jackie) and Isabelle (Todd). They had eight grandchildren: Laurie (Oscar), Danny (Shannon), Ramonsita (Favian), Heath, Seth (Melissa), Karlie (Amie), Amber (Eric) and Richard. They had 13 great grandchildren: Rosa, Stefani, Naomi, Sebastian, Kayleen, Kyrah, Izaiah, Serenity, Symphony, Gracie, Eric Jr., Boaz and Uriah.
Lila and Lester loved singing all the time for family gatherings, for events in the church with the choir, and of course at karaoke. Lila was well-known for her voice of an angel. She loved cooking and feeding many people, going to bingo with her friends, games on her tablet, cooking channels and “Novella” on YouTube. Most of all, she loved her family.
She was preceded in death by many people she loved, but the two that took part of her heart with them were her son Anthony and her beloved Lester. She was never the same after their passing. She tried so hard to be her perky self, but her little body just wouldn’t cooperate.
We believe she passed away from a broken heart in the comfort of her own home in the early morning hours of Feb. 3, 2024. She will be remembered by all who knew her for her kindness, awryness, love and, most of all, her red lipstick.
Rest in peace, Lollipop. We will always and forever love you.
Services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Pagosa Springs. The rosary will be recited at 9 a.m., the eulogy read at 9:30 a.m., and a Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m.
