OBITUARIES

November 12, 1944 - May 29, 2023

Mary Lou (Knueven) Wilwerding passed away on May 29, 2023 in their family home, surrounded by her ve children. She was welcomed into Heaven on an “express pass”, where Denny, her husband of 55 years, has been eagerly awaiting her arrival since his passing six months ago, as well as her parents Louis and Gertrude, and older brother Father Jerry. She is mourned by all who knew her.

Mary Lou was the second child of nine, growing up on the family dairy farm in Leipsic, Ohio. Her constant faith led her to become a novitiate as a young teenager, before coming to the decision that her calling was to be a wife and mother. She attended Marquette University and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. It was there that she met Denny Wilwerding while making homecoming oats, starting a whirlwind romance and marrying just after graduation. Mary Lou loved nursing, enjoying her work as a nephrology nurse before having her children, and then her career as a pediatric nurse later in life.

In 1970, Mary Lou and Denny moved to Colorado for Denny’s work. ey planted their roots in Littleton, buying the house across the street from St Mary’s. She was an active and joyful member of their parish for 53 years, attending daily Mass as frequently as possible. She was also proud to be a founding parishioner at St Mark in Highlands Ranch. She became involved in many outreach and mentoring groups through the Church, including participating and leading Marriage Prep, Marriage Encounter, RENEW, CRHP, and others.

Mary Lou was always involved in her community and in her children’s lives, never saying “no” when there was a need. She loved participating at the school as room mother or eld trip chaperone. She baked weekly both for her family and others, cultivated an extensive garden including freezing and canning the produce, and was always making her home more beautiful and welcoming for all. At every point in her life, she was a willing listener and always o ered to pray for you.

Mary Lou delighted in her family, her friends, her work, and her faith and church. She loved to travel, including Europe and Japan with her husband Denny, as well as trips around the country including to Kansas City to visit her two daughters and families after they moved. Her trip to Medjugorje was a true highlight of her life, and she was grateful for the opportunity to graduate from Catholic Biblical School as well. Some of her favorite things were getting a ride on the tree swing, owers both inside and outside, crocheting and talking with her best friend, evenings with their Cuisine group, and soaking in the beauty and peace at the family cabin. She delighted in serving others in every way, including with her homemade meals, cookies and pies. Her warmth, kindness and smile were unmatched and unforgettable, as were her many devoted friendships.

Mary Lou Wilwerding lived a full, long and loving life, leaving behind daughters Marie (Brad Venner), Peggy (Greg McCall), Laura (Mark Ancell), and Karen (Troy Rundle), as well as son Joe (Uta Letbetter), along with her 11 grandchildren: Nic and Elena, Ian and Cara, Andreas and omas, Catherine, James and Molly, and William and Max. e friends and the family she leaves behind miss her more than they can say and carry on her legacy of faith, love, and friendship. In lieu of donations or owers, we invite you to smile and engage everyone you meet, say “yes” when there is a need, and to spend extra time with those you love.

Funeral Mass June 9, 2023; St Mary Catholic Church, Littleton CO

Be Studio is an all-inclusive space for people young and old to feel the music and express themselves. For dancers who want to break out of the traditional dance studio format, the international company based in Denver could be a dream come

Striving to bring the magic of global movement to people in Colorado, Caitlin BroznaSmith founded the dance studio that brings a piece of global culture along with self-expression and con dence with each class.

“It was so important to include people from where these cultures are sourced,” said Brozna-Smith. “I found people from Polynesia to teach Polynesian dance… teachers from Iran. We really have this beautiful, electric group of dancers from all over the

Among a multitude of dance styles, students can learn the soft style of Hula ‘Auana, Tahitian dance, Bollywood, Belly Dancing, adult ballet and Ginga Vibe, which draws on styles from the African Diaspora including Funk, Afro-Caribe, Dance Hall, Soca, Lambada and Samba. e studio also o ers Taiji Fit, a halfhour mind and low-impact body workout that combines traditional T’ai Chi with mindfulness and modern Western tness. Inspired by the Bollywood style of dance, BollyX Fitness is a 50-minute cardio workout and GROOV3 Hip Hop Dance Fitness.

Within the Bella Diva studio, both the

Students learn worldwide dance styles at Bella Diva World Dance Studio

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

teaching sta and students are multinational. e dance teachers come from ve di erent countries and teach a range of students from 29 di erent countries.

teach countries.

To bring as much authentic culture into Denver, many teachers have gone abroad to study di erent styles of dance.

“ e people (teachers) who are not native from the cultures that we’re teaching travel and learn from the source because it’s really important that we do cultural appreciation and cultural exchange,” Brozna-Smith said.

Samba styles (teachers) the from source appreciation exchange,” Brozna-Smith abso-

Samba, the high energy and fast footwork style is not just a dance form, it is a lifestyle. ose who teach Samba at Bella Diva make sure they are staying true to the culture and teach the students the history of where the dance originated.

“I am very careful when I am teaching my students because I am not Brazilian, it is not my culture, but it is something that I am absolutely fascinated with and love,” said instructor Chelsi Vecchiavelli. “I spend a lot of time outside of class researching, asking experts, listening to podcasts, consulting my mentors who are Brazilian and who are my teachers.”

Born out of the slave trade when it was down in Brazil, Samba was a means of hope and joy and is a dance of resistance and raises up against oppression.

Samba schools have often been located in a favela, which is the poor neighborhoods within Rio De Janeiro. Vecchiavelli said there