Connie Vasquez-Florez

Constance Charolette (Martin) (Micheli) Vasquez-Florez was born in Garden City, Kansas, April 7, 1946, the oldest of six children.
Connie drove a school bus in Pueblo, Colo., for many years, sold real estate and went back to school to become a nurse, an LPN. She was the supervisor of a home healthcare company, where she taught several of her daughters how to be caregivers to the elderly, disabled, veterans and forgotten folks of Pueblo county, a job with many blessings and rewards. She also managed to find time to volunteer and teach.
Her favorite was being a Sunday School teacher and Girl Scout Troop Leader. She loved sharing any knowledge she had with her kids, grandkids and any “extra” kids who wanted to learn crocheting, sewing, embroidery, bread baking, quilting, canning and rock collecting. Being the fantastic teacher that she was, she taught everyone she met that Jesus loved them, right where they were, just how they were.
She was able to bless many “adopted” family members by welcoming them into our already huge family, always being mindful of their emotional, physical and spiritual well being and finding a way of being a true blessing in their lives, including Cris Mulnix of Bloomfield, N.M., Hannah White of Custer, S.D., and former spouse, Harvey Henry of San Luis, Colo.
Our Mom loved to move around, a lot! She lived in Aguilar, Denver, Pueblo, San Luis and Alamosa, Colo., Farmington and Aztec, N.M., Gillette and Newcastle, Wyo., Custer and finally Rapid City, S.D. A huge hug to everyone in Custer for embracing her as one of their own—a welcome so well received that Connie convinced five of her seven children to make the move to South Dakota!
Connie peacefully passed away Aug. 19, 2022, surrounded by loved ones and friends. She was 76.
Her parents, Calvin C. Martin and Norma Jean Parker precede her in death; as well as her brother, Rocky; and sister, Janet.
Connie married John J. Micheli Sr., May 17, 1963, and had seven children with him who all survive her.  John Sr. passed in 2008. Her surviving children are  John J. (Suzie) Micheli, Jr., Annette M. Gonzales (her caregiver), Stephanie S. (Orlando) Martinez, Charolette M. Anderson, Mick M., Christine C. Micheli and Elizabeth (Adam) Micheli.  She is also survived by 27 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and  one great-great-grandchild.
A Special thank you to her end of life caregivers—Angel and Moses, Mick and Jen and Stephanie Martinez.
Cremation has taken place and a potluck-style Celebration of Life will be held at her favorite lake, Stockade Lake, located east of Custer, in the picnic area, Sunday, Sept. 4, at 2 p.m.
Arrangements have been placed under the local direction of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.