Willamae Vinci

Willamae Vinci, known by those who loved her as Ams, Mae, or Willa, passed away peacefully
and entered God’s Kingdom on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. She leaves to celebrate her life, her
sons, Tim, (Tracy) and Tom; her grandchildren, TJ (Lindsay) and Thomas (Leigh Anne); her great-
grandsons, Tony and Taylor; as well as numerous special relatives and friends. She was
preceded in death by her loving and devoted husband of 54 years, Richard (Dick or Papa); son,
Ted Vinci; parents, William J. and Josephine Culig; sister, MaryJo and brothers, Billy and Joe.
Mae loved her community, friends, and family with her whole heart. She was a woman ahead
of her time and lived life to its fullest.
Born in Pueblo, Colorado on March 10, 1935, Mae treasured her upbringing and raised her
family in Pueblo. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School, Pueblo Catholic High, and then
earned a degree in education at Loretto Heights in Denver. She returned to Pueblo and taught
at St. Mary’s Catholic School, Mount Carmel, Sunset Park Elementary and Columbian
Elementary. On August 17, 1957, Mae and Dick began their life together raising their three sons
on the southside of Pueblo.
As a woman who loved to entertain, a desire stirred within to open a business at the newly built
Pueblo Mall in 1976. Mae opened The Wooden Spoon and later The Bath About with her friend,
Marie Robida. Customers always knew they could find the perfect gift if they popped into one
of those boutiques. Mae taught us all what it meant to really celebrate. Her attention to detail
and creating the perfect celebration were Mae’s superpowers. All those fortunate enough to
attend one of her parties will agree that they were always special.
Although Mae suffered for years the effects of rheumatoid arthritis, she continued to be
involved in her beloved Pueblo by helping teachers in their classrooms, running the Catholic
education program at Our Lady of the Meadows, and other various odd jobs. She enjoyed being
involved in community organizations such as the Junior League of Pueblo. Some of her best
recipes can be found in the cookbook, From an Adobe Oven to a Microwave Range.
An expert bridge player, Mae continued to play and win many bridge matches through
December of 2025. She loved social gatherings and appreciated everyone who included her in
their parties. Mae considered herself truly blessed to be surrounded by friends and family
throughout her life.
The family would like to thank all of Mae’s friends and family members for their love and
support throughout the years. We are so grateful for every visit, phone call, card, or message.
Reaching out meant the world to her. While her mobility limited her ability to move freely
about, your love and friendship gave her moments to look forward to and helped her feel
connected. We would also like to thank the staff at Visiting Angels, Life Care Center, Parkview
Hospital and Joni Fair Hospice House for your expertise and care for Mae. Also, we would like to
thank members of the Pueblo Fire Department and AMR for their assistance over the years. We
have never met more dedicated, caring, and knowledgeable people. Finally, we would like to

extend a special thank you to Jackie, Paulette, Diane, Misty, and Bobbi for helping Mae by going
above and beyond to give her grace and dignity in her day-to-day life.
A funeral Mass is at 10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, at Our Lady of the Meadows Catholic
Church, 23 Starling Drive. Interment will follow at Imperial Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Lunch
will follow in the church basement. In lieu of flowers and food, Mae would like for you to please
consider donating to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in her honor.