Esther Maria Kuretich

June 8, 1929 - May 14, 2026

Esther Maria Lucero was born in Montrose, Colorado, on June 8, 1929, to Sam and Anna Lucero. She was raised in Somerset, Colorado, with her four sisters, Doris, June, Virginia, and Mary Jane, all of whom preceded her in death. She attended Paonia High School, where she was Homecoming Queen and is likely the last surviving member of her class. Esther married Frank Kuretich on December 26, 1951. She was a devoted wife and mother of five children- Mike (Sheila) Kuretich, Steve (Jeannette) Kuretich, Fran (Keith) Blackburn, Chris (Jim) Gronnebek, and Jo (John) Kelly- born over a span of 14 years. She raised them with love and discipline while her husband traveled for Procter & Gamble.

Frank and Esther loved music and dancing and would spend their Saturday nights at the Elk's Lodge in Grand Junction. They loved their garden and many fruit trees from which they canned and made amazing pies at the extent of staining their children's fingers from picking mulberries, cherries, peaches, and plums. She was famous for her petitsa and fruitcake which she shared with family and friends.

Esther volunteered for her children's schools and activities and was always supportive of them at all times, even to her last days. She enjoyed learning to ski in her 50's and loved the slot machines where she somehow always won a jackpot. Esther's advice to her family was always "DO IT WHILE YOU CAN".

Esther is survived by her five children and their spouses; seven grandchildren, Christopher (Laura) Kelly, Jennifer (Shannon) Yeager, Jordan (Camille) Kuretich, Brandon (Lynsey) Kuretich, Jeep Gronnebek, Brian Blackburn, and Rachel Blackburn; nine great-grandchildren, Jaxton, Cooper, Mason, Kendall, Ethan, Camden, Remmington, Harper, and Jamison. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters; and infant, Gerald Alan Kuretich.

A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., at Martin Mortuary. Committal will follow at Orchard Mesa Cemetery.

"See you in the movies…"