Charlotte Ware Obituary

Durango resident Charlotte Ethel Ware died Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013, in Lakewood. She had turned 82 the day before.

Ms. Ware was born to Charles Edward and Helen (Whelan) Ware on Aug. 2, 1931, in Philadelphia. Her family moved to New Jersey in 1945. While attending Rutgers University she worked in marketing and opinion research for nine years.

In 1961, she moved to Colorado and worked in banking. Later, she was the commencement clerk at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she was a part-time student. Ms. Ware graduated in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in education.

She taught in at least 53 of the 90 Denver Public Schools as a well-respected substitute and full-time teacher, according to her family. In 1989, she completed her master's degree in early-childhood education from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.

In 1983, Ms. Ware moved to Durango. She taught first grade at St. Columba Catholic School from 1988 to 1993. Afterward, she continued to substitute teach, tutor children and mentor teachers.

"Her passion was to teach children to read and write," according to her family. "She 'loved to see their eyes light up when they would break the code.'"

Ms. Ware was a dedicated member of the St. Columba Parish, the Altar and Rosary Society and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court of St. Anthony No. 1248.

Working with Helen Ashley Kemmerly, she helped start the Sacred Heart/St. Columba Jail Ministry in 1995, bringing Catholic services to La Plata County jail inmates.

"She was an advocate for the incarcerated and the addicted," according to her family. "Her motto has always been 'never give up.'"

Ms. Ware was involved in many Durango community committees and support groups, advocating for the incarcerated, underprivileged and addicted.

She is listed in Who's Who of America, Educators and American Women.

Ms. Ware is survived by her son, Jonathan Ware of Las Vegas; sister, Joan Berube of Westminster; brothers Merle Ware of Windsor, Meredith Ware of Colorado Springs and Rodney Ware of Browns Mills, N.J.; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A rosary will be led by the Catholic Daughters at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013, at St. Columba Church, 1830 East Second Ave. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated immediately afterward at 10 a.m., also at St. Columba. A graveside service will take place at Greenmount Cemetery, with a reception at the St. Columba Parish Center.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the St. Columba School, Adopt-a-Student Fund, 1801 East Third Ave., Durango, CO 81301.