Bernadette Ann (Terry) Popiel

Article Last Updated; Tuesday, October 13, 2009 12:28AM

Durango resident Bernadette Ann (Terry) Popiel died of lung cancer at University Hospital in Denver on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009. She was 56.

Mrs. Popiel was born to Sam and Carrie (Passero) Terry on March 7, 1953. She lived with her family in Sopris in Las Animas County before moving to Trinidad. Mrs. Popiel graduated from Trinidad High School and attended Trinidad State Junior College.

She then moved to Denver, where she worked for Mountain Bell Phone Co. for 17 years until she met her future husband, Harry Popiel.

The couple married in Las Vegas on Aug. 26, 1988.

They continued to live and work in the Denver area until they moved to Durango in 2002.

“Bernadette was a loving daughter, an awesome sister and a fantastic aunt,” her family wrote. “She loved spending time with her family and traveled extensively throughout the years. She was a fun-loving, outgoing, caring person who will be deeply missed by all her family and friends.”

Mrs. Popiel is survived by her husband of 21 years, Harry Popiel, of Durango; mother, Carrie Terry, of Trinidad; brothers Joe Terry and Gary Terry, both of Trinidad, Sam Terry of Denver and Marco Terry of Colorado Springs; sisters Cathy Terry of Trinidad and Lois Mantelli of Albuquerque; stepdaughters Natalie Powers of Phoenix and Carrie Lindemuth of San Francisco; two grandsons; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. today, Oct. 13, 2009, at the Comi Chapel, 1804 E. Main St. in Trinidad. A funeral will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Trinidad. Burial will occur at Trinidad Catholic Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.