Joseph "Eric" Mares Jr. passed away peacefully at home overnight on Wednesday, December 12, 2025. He is preceded in death by his father Joseph Mares, mother Rosalie Romero-Mares & sister Melissa Mares. He is survived by his sister Jennifer Jo Romero-Mares & "knees"(niece)Jasmine Rose Mares.

     Born the second child, he wasn’t allowed to return home with his parents for one week as he had Down Syndrome & was told he should be institutionalized & wouldn’t live past 9.  Joe & Rose visited every day & finally demanded to be given their child. Eric had open-heart surgery when he was two years old & has been as healthy as “a big ox” ever since.  He passed away from complications with amyloid plaques due to Alzheimer's disease.  The most beautiful, quiet baby Grandma Tillie Sanchez-Romero had to pinch him just so everyone could hear him cry. Eric attended Hope Centre then graduated from West HS when he was 21 which is the age that special-ed students age out. He worked at a few places including McDonald’s, Argyle Nursing Home & a few workshops.  He also loved volunteering with his dad @ KUVO Jazz 89.3 since its inception 40 years ago. Eric ended up being a man about town with his parents, travelling throughout the country, Mexico & going to Las Vegas every year for his birthday (while enjoying a virgin Mai Tai).  He loved swimming, overnight trips to Blackhawk/Central City, bingo, buffets & going to El Chapultepec Jazz Cantina. Eric attended Easter Seals Camp & Special Olympic retreats for over ten years at the Air Force Academy, he loved staying in the cadet dorms & that inspired him to move out on his own one day.  Eric loved singing  & dancing & was a part of Denver Parks & Rec’s Actor Workshop for over 2 decades. His music (Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Prince, George Michael, etc), movies(The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, Dirty Dancing, The Breakfast Club, La Bamba, The Karate Kid, Grease, Staying Alive, Purple Rain, etc) & tv classic comedy sitcoms shows (Three’s Company, I Love Lucy, Good Times, Sanford & Son, Alice, The Love Boat among many others including Dr. Who).  He loved brushing & styling all his dolls' hair, coloring, re-arranging all the rooms in (anyone's)home & drinking "Goa-Goa"(Coca-Cola) & eating his ramen & donuts. Well, at least we won't have to dress you up as "Drac-acula"(Dracula) this Halloween like we have over the last five decades.

     Most of all Eric loved his family & friends, actually he loved everybody. He was so kind, loving, sweet, forgiving, unassuming, welcoming & willing to share. He was our angel & Joe taught him to be the man that he was. Whenever I left our new home of the last 3 years(which he still thought was a hotel)to run errands, he would say "Be careful and don’t flirt with men", don't  worry, I'll be careful with all these crazy drivers & you were & will forever be my Main Man, my brother, my best friend, my son....my angel whom I walked among my entire life & is now above....my "Yero"(HERO). He would always say "Thank You" when I told him I LOVE YOU, but a couple days before he left us, he said I LOVE YOU back. Another great memory is when Jazzey attended her first homecoming, he insisted on getting out of the car, arms crossed & wait for her by the parking lot on that dark, windy, chilly evening. He was the Man of our house when his father passed away four years ago.

     Well Eric, you finally moved out, you're in the grandest penthouse of them all, I'm real-real "jealous"(Prince-Appollonia style). The silence in the house is deafening without your tv blaring, Jazz & I agree, you are unforgettable & you've shaped us into two of the most beautiful people on earth, more beautiful on the inside than out that is.  When you would go to bed you always had to have a tiny lamp on because it was "pooky"(spooky) & I would say you're gonna sleep with angels & I'll wake you up in the morning, no more sleeping with them now, you're living as an Angel.  I was your surrogate mother, a parent should never lose a child, my heart will forever remain broken until I'm with you again. Maybe you'll get married, have children, drive, better yet I think you're flying those planes headed West to Vegas or you’re that Seagull gliding free as can be? Thank you to Denver Health for your care for his entire life, we did a remarkable job, his spirit/happiness/spunk was still there until his very last day.  Aurora(woof) waits for you by the front door everyday & won't stop crying & Ed Sheeran(meow)sleeps by your bedroom door every night. Our parents had to stop taking you to funerals for people you knew(& never met) because you were so emotional, but we taught you to cry on cue, so now, so I'll continue that after penning this Obit, as my eyes are swollen shut from the tears, I promise I'll stay strong & I'll worship you forever. Love, your Sister aka Chrissy Snow, Carol Seaver….

     Finally, I'd like to end with sharing a few quotes from people my brother impacted & touched throughout the world:

                 'To me he'll always be an extraordinary man whose loving heart, kindness & sense of humor inspired me everyday~the world is a little less kind

                  today...'

                      'Filled our lives with JOY!'

                    'Even though he was a grown man he was innocent~ we loved that about him....'

                         'He leaves a big hole in my heart....he impacted so many people & I'll always have a special place in my heart for him'

                              'When someone you love becomes a Memory, the memory becomes a TREASURE’🙏🏽😇💞🥀