Corn Mothers

It is with deep sorrow we mourn the loss of Alfria Casuas ( Alfie) Salazar. She was an amazing woman who inspired so many. We were honored to have her as a Corn Mother.

Alfiria Eleanor Casaus Salazar

Alfiria Eleanor Casaus Salazar, 87, passed away on June 17, 2023. She was born September 14, 1935, in Monte Vista, CO. to parents Pat and Lela (Salazar) Casaus. She is preceded in death by her parents along with her husband of 61 years, Alfred Salazar; son, Alfred (Larry) Salazar; sister Alice Casaus; brothers, Ben Casaus, Salvador (Chapo) Casaus, and Pat Casaus.

Alfiria enjoyed reading, drawing, watching wildlife, arts & crafts, and researching genealogy. Her passion was writing. She published two books, several articles, and poems. She received the Dr. Frist Humanitarian Award from Parkview Hospital in 1988, was named an outstanding woman of 1995 for Women’s History Month, and received an Up With Reading Community Award in 2000. Most of all she loved spending time with her family.

Alfiria is survived by her sons, Andrew, and Phillip Salazar; sisters, Vera Finn, Lillian Romero, Dolores (Lola) Montanó, Liz (Hank) Montelongo, Lorraine Gallegos, and Lucille Salazar; brother, Fred Casaus; 7 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren. Viewing at 9 a.m. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. both Thurs. June 29, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Internment Roselawn Cemetery.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL

Thursday, June 29, 2023
10:00 AM
St. Joseph Catholic Church
1145 South Aspen Road
Pueblo, CO 81006

Alfiria Casaus (Alfie) Salazar PUEBLO, COLORADO

Inducted as a Corn Mother at the Pueblo City-County Library District Central Library, Rawlings Branch, Pueblo, Colorado, on October 4, 2019

Alfie Salazar was born in 1935 in Monte Vista, Colorado, but lived most of her childhood in the Salt Creek community in Pueblo. After leaving Pueblo Central High School, she later completed her GED. She drove a school bus, worked in a hospital dietary department, and was a Cub Scout den mother for many years.

She received the Dr. Frist Humanitarian Award from Parkview Medical Hospital in 1988, was named an outstanding woman of 1995 for Women’s History Month, and received an Up With Reading Community Award in 2000. She has been a volunteer at the Pueblo City-County Library District since 1993 and a member of the Fray Angelico Chavez Chapter of the Genealogical Society of Hispanic America for almost 30 years, and has received many awards for her accomplishments and volunteer work. She also belongs to two genealogical groups in New Mexico.

Alfie and a neighbor founded the La Salle Road Ladies Club in 1964. Along with her late husband, Alfred, she started an annual Halloween Party for family, friends, and children in 1984, which is still ongoing. Alfie and Alfred were married for 61 years. They had three children—Larry (deceased), Andrew, and Philip, seven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. She describes herself as a people person and loves to hug. Alfie is still very active, and one of her paintings won a placement at the Colorado State Fine Arts contest for 2018.

She has published the books Volando Como el Viento (Flying Like the Wind), and Memories from the Salt Creek Neighborhood.

Alfies' PHILOSOPHY

While growing up, we lived on a farm with my maternal grandparents. There were always a lot of people, and laughter as they shared stories while they butchered animals, plastered the house, or did other work together. It was a time when everyone helped each other. I myself like to share love, hugs, stories, and anything else. I believe that everyone, good and bad, has something good to offer.

I was nine when we moved to Salt Creek, a poor barrio in Pueblo, Colorado. Being the oldest, I helped take care of my eleven siblings. This taught me responsibility, love, and patience. I quit school in the twelfth grade, eloped, and got married. But I always wanted to be more than a mother and wife. I wanted to learn, to be something more than a homemaker. My husband encouraged me to do and try different things. I earned my GED, joined clubs, and learned crafts and art, but my passion was writing.

Years later, I took a class in creative writing and my professor opened the door that I needed to fulfill my passion. Since then, I have written and published two books, several articles, and poems galore. I believe that everyone has the ability to learn if they only take the time to do it, and that they should never be discouraged.

You will run into people in life who are negative, but you should just rise above the negativity and believe in yourself, and never give up. Everyone has something to offer. They have dreams they should follow and should always try to be positive.