Rita Jean (Reed) Cusimano passed away on July 24, 2021. Rita (who went by Jean) was born on January 24, 1932 to Stan and Cora Reed. She was raised in Aguilar Colorado and attended Trinidad state junior college.
She was everybody’s confidant say the friends and neighbors who came to her for advice. They knew she had empathy and common sense. Jean Cusimano always offered a cup of coffee along with a willing ear. She gave counsel from the heart to anybody who asked her for it. She had an open mind and a thirst for knowledge that went along with her open arms and giving heart. Jean Cusimano knew how to fight her battles. She was absolutely non-confrontational all the time until it was something that really mattered to her and at that point she would not back down.
Jean says that she met Jack (Vic) Cusimano at the Ludlow Dancehall but he insists they met at El Moro. Whichever one it was, there was no argument that Vics brothers band The Frisco Canyon Ramblers were playing that night and that Vic was working the door. Jean loved to dance and she was in the right place at the right time! They went on to be happily married for 52 years until Vic passed away in 2005.
She set her own ambitions aside when she married Vic and raised their two children Stan and Vickie, while Vic worked on various ranches in the area. She was a great cook and all the ranch hands wanted to eat at the Cusimano house.
After Jean was stricken with a debilitating disease, she remained stoic and steadfast. She never complained as she went from an active ranch life to a wheelchair and eventually a nursing home. When you asked her how she was doing she always would reply “pretty fair”.
Jean is preceded in death by husband Vic, parents Stan and Cora Reid, sisters Lucille Watson and Blanche Benedetti. She is survived by son Stan (Loretta) Cusimano and daughter Vickie Cusimano.
Services to be held Saturday August 14, 2021 at 10:00 AM at Apishapa Valley Chapel in Aguilar. Reception to follow at Aguilar community center .
