Amparo Muñoz Ruiz entered into her eternal rest on January 17, 2025 at the age of 76 after a lengthy illness.
Amparo was born October 23, 1948 in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico to Guadalupe and Maria de Jesus (Marrufo) Muñoz. Amparo met the love of her life and beloved husband, Jose Ruiz of 56 years in Colonia Obregón (Rubio), Chihuahua Mexico in 1969. In 1973 Amparo arrived in the United States along with her husband and two children. In a new country far from everyone and everything she knew she exhibited a thirst for knowledge and was determined to learn the language of her newly adopted country. After learning English she began serving the Hispanic community in Yuma and surrounding counties on her own until she began helping in a more official capacity at the Yuma Rural Resource Center, where she worked as a client services provider for the Women’s Health Project. Through her years at the Resource Center she also organized and provided English as a Second Language classes in Washington and Yuma Counties, helped with a multitude of fundraisers, and helped with translating. In 1995 Amparo obtained her GED in both Spanish and English through Northeastern Junior College in Sterling. A GED instructor at NJC said that Amparo was the first person in the state of Colorado to take the GED exams in both languages. One of Amparo’s most commendable accomplishments was the honor of receiving the first ever Hero in Health award in October, 2000. This award “was created to honor those who have made exceptional impacts on the health of children and to heighten public awareness of child health issues.” To sum up her lengthy career, she absolutely loved being an advocate for the Hispanic community and her goal was to always make sure that others arriving in the United States would not experience the same hardships she had to endure. Her impact in the Hispanic community are too numerous to list, but her contributions continue to reverberate to this day despite her having stepped down many years ago due to health issues.
As for her immediate family and friends we too recognized her tireless efforts and impact that she was having in the Hispanic community, but we also remember how she got there. We often marveled at how she began as a cleaning lady and working in the beet fields every summer to that of an advocate for the Hispanic community. She was never afraid of working hard to put food on the table – honest work she called it. However, what we will fondly remember her for is not her many accomplishments but rather her funny, outspoken, and quirky side. She was always the life of the party and as fearless as she was in her work life, she displayed that same tenacity in her personal life – in particular on a stage singing and dancing at all our fiestas and dances. We forever will have a special fondness for Las Cadenas, as we called it, where most of our celebrations took place. Amparo was also a woman of unwavering faith in God and instilled in her children a great love for La Virgen de Guadalupe and a devotion to the Rosary. She never forgot where she came from – never forgot about the family she left behind in Mexico and remained a continual beacon of strength and support to them from a distance. She taught all of us to be proud of our culture, our traditions, and the importance of staying connected to family. As we grapple with the loss of her physical presence, we find solace in knowing that her spirit lives on through the countless contributions she made in her community. Her love will continue to guide us and her spirit of giving will forever inspire us. Mama, we will love you always and because of you we have beautiful stories abounding with laughter that will sustain us, a desire in our hearts to help those less fortunate, and an insane work ethic. Descansa en paz chaparrita.
Preceded in joining the Lord: her two daughters, Beatriz Aurora Murphy and Rosita Ruiz; brothers Lupe, Arturo and Jesus Munoz; sister, Ramona Chaparro; parents, Guadalupe and Maria de Jesus Muñoz.
Amparo is survived by her family: husband, Jose Ruiz; her children Myrna Remington and Ramon Ruiz; numerous nieces, nephews; numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and two sisters.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. John’s Catholic Church in Yuma, Colorado.