Christella M. Castillo, of Trinidad Colorado, passed away on September 10, 2023, after a brief illness. She was born May 23, 1929, in Tobasco, CO, to Jose Amador and Clorinda Abeyta Vigil. She married Joe A. Castillo on January 30, 1949, and they were married for 57 years until his passing in 2006. Joe and Christella had five children, Gene, Leonard, Hazel, Beverly, and Joseph.
After raising her children, Christella worked for BOCES as a bilingual teacher for the Trinidad School District for several years.
Christella was an excellent cook, and she made the best tamales, making them every Christmas as gifts for her family to unwrap. Having an extraordinary green thumb, Christella had a room full of beautiful plants that she would often use to start new plants to give to her family. She had an amazing sense of humor and the utmost amount of patience in babysitting all her grandchildren for countless number of hours. She spent every morning reading her scriptures and listening to Joyce Meyers and Andrew Wommack. Christella also enjoyed watching cooking channels and would instruct someone to go to the grocery store to buy the ingredients and cook the meals for her. She also loved watching Young and the Restless and Judge Judy.
In the last years of her life, Christella received very special care from her daughter, Beverly, and most especially from her granddaughter, Heather Santistevan. Heather so unselfishly gave up her time to spend with her Grammy. She would take her to medical appointments, take her shopping, style her hair, polish her nails and just hang out with her. The two of them were the best of friends.
Christella is preceded in death by her parents, Jose and Clorinda; her brothers, Joe, John, Paul, Albeo, and Alfonso; and sisters, Augustina and Jenny; her daughter, Hazel Ann; her son, Leonard; and her grandson, Gene Joseph. She will be deeply missed by her children, Gene (Louise) Castillo, Beverly Castillo, Joseph (Joann) Castillo, daughter-in-law, Sally Castillo; grandchildren, Cheryl (Derek) Navarette, Jeanine (Brian) Duran, Denise (Rob) Lee, Janell Castillo, Bernadette Cappellucci, Amber Jimenez, Tiffany (Nick) Mason, Shay Lynn (Ernie) Whatley, Leonora (Adam) Garcia, Chris Castillo, Leonard A. Castillo, Heather (Gabe) Santistevan, Chevelle Claflin and Christopher Castillo along with numerous great-grandchildren,nephews and nieces and extended family and friends.
Viewing will be Tuesday, September 19th from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Comi Funeral Home Chapel.
Christella’s Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, September 20th at Faith Christian Fellowship at 10 a.m. followed by interment at Trinidad Catholic Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers are all her grandchildren.
Pallbearers for Christella are her grandchildren, Tyler Navarette, Keith Duran, Justin Duran, Andrew Lee, Dylan Richardson, and Ayzaiah Santistevan.
arrangements made under the direction of the
Comi Funeral Home.
