Obituary- Mary Mae Britt

Mary Mae Britt
DeHerrera
11-30-1933 ~ 4-6-2011
Mary Mae Brit DeHerrera, wife of former County Commissioner Oress DeHerrera, died April 6, 2011 at their home in Walsenburg. She is survived by her husband Oress; son James who works at Pike’s Peak Community College in Colorado Springs; daughter Dr. Mary Codo, M.D.; son-in-law Ted Cado; four grandchildren Patrick, Michael, Mark and Thomas of Naperville, Illinois; daughter Rebecca DeHerrera who is a make-up artist in Burbank California; brother Jim Britt of Walsenburg; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Mary Mae was born in the Del Carbon Coal Camp near Walsenburg on October 30, 1933 to Joseph Britt and Eulalia Bustos Britt. She attended the Del Carbon School until the family moved to Walsenburg where she attended St. Mary High School and graduated valedictorian of her class. She also played the piano and organ for various occasions during her high school years.
Mary Mae attended Corwin DePaul School of Nursing and became a Registered Nurse. She worked for a short time as a Public Health Nurse in Huerfano County while she and Oress planned to marry after his armed services obligation in the Far East.
Later she worked in Dever for nine years at Children’s Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital until the couple moved to Dallas, Texas where Oress was promoted in his job. While in Texas, she attended Texas Women’s University where she obtained her B.S. in nursing, worked in Dallas hospitals and schools until Oress was moved to this company’s headquarters in Chicago, IL. While in Illinois she obtained her Masters in Education and nursing at the University of Illinois. Mary Mae retired from school nursing in 1994 and she and Oress moved back to Huerfano County where they were born and raised.
Until death, Mary Mae and Oress were very involved in their church and community especially with the Senior Outreach Program.
Memorials may be made in Mary Mae’s name to the St. Mary Senior Outreach Program at 121 E. 7th St., PO Box 86, Walsenburg, CO 81089 in care of Sister Carol Dalach.
Services were held Saturday, April 9 at St. Mary Catholic Church. Interment at South St. Mary Cemetery in Walsenburg, CO.