Mary Aguilar

Mary Clorinda Aguilar, 63, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at her home.  She was born October 30, 1945, in New Mexico, the daughter of Fidel and Rose (Zamora) Aguilar Sr. She was raised in La Junta, Colorado, where she graduated from high school in 1964. She attended Hesston College in Hesston, Kansas, studying pre-nursing. She graduated from Kansas City General Hospital and Medical Center School of Nursing in 1967. She also attended Colorado University School for Nurse Practitioner. On July 2nd she married Raymond Juarez in Denver, Colorado. After graduating from college Mary returned to her hometown in La Junta where she worked at the La Junta Medical Center in many capacities until 1970. After several years in La Junta she moved to Denver, Colorado where she worked at the Westwood Health Station in Denver as a family planning Nurse Practitioner. She continued to work in the Denver and Thornton, Colorado area. She operated a Women’s Health Clinic in Minneapolis, and then worked for Indian Health Services outside of Minot, North Dakota. She really enjoyed the one year spent working in Family Medicine in Juno, Alaska. She returned to Minnesota and worked for Tri-County Hospital, operating their Sebeka, Henning, and Bertha/Hewitt Medical Clinics. Mary returned to her hometown of La Junta and worked for the Valley Wide Medical Group and the Arkansas Regional Medical Center, supporting their clinics in southeastern Colorado. After retiring from that practice in 2003, she returned to Fergus Falls to live close to her nephews, Angelo Griego and Fidel Aguilar. In the last few years Mary enjoyed square dancing and was a member of the Square Dance Federation of Minnesota, with club affiliation to Pairs and Squares, Square and Twirl, and served as an officer for the state association. Mary attended every state convention when she was able back to 1993. She also participated in the local YMCA water exercise group. Mary enjoyed gardening, working in both flower and vegetable gardens. She especially enjoyed the sugar peas, radishes and carrots. In her early years Mary enjoyed mountain climbing, rock rappelling, and river rafting, rafting down the Colorado River many times. She also enjoyed stock car racing and attended races at every opportunity. She was an avid motorcyclist and enjoyed cross country trips. Mary enjoyed concerts and plays presented by the Center for the Arts in Fergus Falls and Detroit Lakes. She also enjoyed country music and attended We Fest for many years in the VIP section. Mary enjoyed parades and especially enjoyed the marching bands because of her interest in music, which started at an early age, where she played the clarinet and marched in her high school marching band.  Preceding her in death were her mother, Rose, her father, Fidel, and a brother, Able Aguilar; a step-daughter, Debbie, as well as numerous aunts and uncles. Survivors include three sisters, Mabel (Johnnie) De Leon, La Junta, CO, Naomi Hart, La Junta, CO, and Jovita (Lalo) Soto, Garden City, KS; four brothers, Fidel (Juanita) Aguilar Jr., Derby, KS, Eloid (Niola) Zamora, Monte Vista, CO, and Gilbert Zamora and Tony Zamora, both of New Mexico; five step-children, Daniel Juarez, John Juarez, Ray Juarez Jr., Chris, and Virginia; 14 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews, including two special nephews and their wives, Angelo J. and Emilia Griego, and Fidel B. and Jessica Aguilar. There will be a memorial service at 2 p.m. Saturday at Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls with Reverend Jim Johnson officiating. Final funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 10, 2009 at Emmanuel Mennonite Church in her hometown of La Junta, Colorado with Rev. Steve Schmidt officiating.  Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, La Junta.  Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of arrangements. Memorials are preferred to Park Gardens, 215 E. Skogmo Boulevard, Fergus Falls, MN to be used for a memorial garden in her honor. Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com