Ernestine Whitney, 88, of Aurora, passed away April 25, 2016.

She was born May 29, 1927 in Las Vegas, New Mexico, the daughter of Alonzo and Patrocinia (Gallegos) Mares. On March 16, 1974 she married George Whitney, of Aurora, Colorado.

Ernestine is survived by her husband, George Whitney; two sons, Ray Lucero and Bob Lucero; three daughters, Joanelle Lucero, Pat (Ron) Moore, and Mary (Mel) Gibbs; step-daughter, Dawn Leaning; ten grandchildren, Justin (Ryan) Grosch, Karena (Brian) Everton, Jason (Tiffany) Cunningham, Jerry Cunningham, Shaleen (Sam) DeStefano, Jennifer (Beau) Burke, Tammy Donnelly, Chris (Brenda) Gibbs, Randal (Cybil) Gibbs, and Crystal Gibbs; two step-grandchildren, Cris Leaning, Alex Leaning; seventeen great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Frances Priscilla Kohut; grandchild, Cristine Copenhaver; parents, Alonzo and Patrocinia Mares; and sisters, Cleo Spiess and Priscilla Romero.


God saw you were getting tired

and a cure was not to be.

So He put his arms around you

and He whispered come with me.

With tearful eyes we watched you suffer

and watched you fade away.

Although we loved you dearly,

we could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating.

Hard working hands to rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us

that He only takes the best.

It's lonely here without you.

We miss you more each day.

Life doesn't seem the same

since you went away.

When days are sad and lonely,

and everything goes wrong,

We seem to hear you whisper,

Cheer up and carry on.

Each time we see your picture

you seem to smile and say,

Don't cry, I'm in God's hands.

We'll meet again someday.


To share a memory of Ernestine or leave a special condolence message for her family, please click the Share Memories button above.