Mary Sylvia Dean

Mary “Lorraine” Sylvia Dean, 76, of Brighton, CO, passed away on June 1st, 2021.  She was born on April 14th, 1945 in Oakland, CA to Robert and Lola (Gallegos) Romero.  She spent her very early years in Las Vegas, NM, and later moved to Denver, CO with her family where her parents opened a small grocery store on West Colfax Avenue.  Her father also owned and operated a successful landscaping business.

Mary met her soulmate for the first time, Joe Dean, at 8 years old when he first came into their family store.  Several years later, they began dating, and were married on August 8th, 1964 at Saint Cajetan’s Catholic Church in Denver, CO.  With four children, Mary was a busy homemaker.  She encouraged and supported her husband’s dream of farming, and after raising enough livestock for auction to put a down payment on a small farmhouse, they moved right outside of Brighton, CO. Mary was a hard-working, driven woman, who continued raising her children while also running the retail produce market which served the Brighton community and surrounding metro area with fresh and roasted green chile and a variety of other fruits and vegetables.  At the business’ peak, Dean’s Farm Produce was one of the most sought-after chile farms in Northern Colorado, with distributions to New Mexico, other surrounding states, and even California.

Mary was known for her perseverance, strength, her amazing cooking, her fiery spirit and her ability to bring joy and laughter to those around her.  She was a generous and kind individual, who was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.  She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially spoiling her grandbabies.

Mary is survived by her four children, Robert Dean of Thornton, CO; Joseph Dean of Evans, CO; Pete Dean of Casper, WY; and Lorraine (Mario) Mrva of Arvada, CO; her sister Ramona Garcia of Denver, CO and many grandchildren.  Mary was preceded in death by her husband Joe; her daughter; Mary Angelina, her parents, Robert and Lola Romero; her brother, Pete Romero; and her sister, Mary Romero. 

A Rosary will be held for Mary at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 9th, 2021 at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Brighton, CO, with the Funeral Mass to follow at 11:30 a.m., and Interment following the service at Elmwood Cemetery in Brighton, CO. 

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