Mary Teresa Machado

Mary Teresa (Lodzinski) Machado, 62, of Denver, Colorado died at home on June 24, 2026 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Mary was born March 27, 1964 to David and Cecilia (Sillonis) Lodzinski in Boise, Idaho, the first of four children. She spent her early childhood in Idaho Falls, where she developed her love for skiing and the outdoors from her adventurous father and the seeds of her strong Catholic faith were planted by both of her parents.

Throughout her childhood Mary moved many times, holding particularly fond memories of her time in Santa Fe, New Mexico, as evidenced by much of the décor in her home. She began her high school years in Herndon, Virginia but finished them in Vale, Oregon after her parents moved the family to care for her elderly Amuma (maternal grandmother). She graduated in 1982 from Vale Union High School and that summer began dating her devoted husband, Rick, who had quickly noticed the new girl in town when the Lodzinskis arrived. They were married on June 29, 1985 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Vale, Oregon. Mary graduated from Gonzaga University in 1986 before completing a master’s degree at Ball State University in Indiana.

In May 1988 she welcomed her first son, David, making her own mom an Amuma, and three weeks later moved to Denver, Colorado. Denver was originally supposed to be a brief stop on the way back to Oregon or Idaho, but became Mary’s home for 38 years. There she welcomed the rest of her children: Jacob, Leah, and Joseph.

Mary planned and led numerous family road trips throughout the U.S., often to the national parks of the Rocky Mountains and the Southwest. She loved travel and had a deep appreciation for culture originating from her Lodzinski and Sillonis family heritage. In recent years Mary expanded her travels abroad, first visiting the lands of her ancestry: Poland and the Basque Country of northern Spain. Through further travel Mary developed a great love for the cultures of Ireland, Italy, and Portugal.

Mary is remembered for her caring and generous disposition which impacted many. She had a passion for helping young mothers with breastfeeding, spent countless hours growing and expanding the Catholic homeschool network in Denver, and with great hospitality would welcome anyone that needed a meal or a place to stay. Mary was also known for her quiet ministries like mending cassocks for priests and seminarians and praying daily for their vocations and those of the single young adults she knew.

Mary’s faith and living of the liturgical year informed much of her spirit of hospitality. From Easter Vigil to All Saints, O Antiphons to Midnight Mass, her home and family were transformed by Catholic tradition in a true domestic church. While Mary’s hospitality extended far and wide, it most profoundly impacted and inspired her family, who were blessed to experience her devotion to motherhood in their daily lives. The last years of Mary’s life were joyfully lived among her growing family, as her dream of becoming an Amuma was realized with the births of her granddaughters, whom she delighted in and cared for deeply.

Mary is survived by Richard Machado, her husband of 41 years; children David (Christine) Machado of Kennewick, Washington, Rev. Jacob Machado of Denver, Colorado, Leah (Codi) Krueger of Sheridan, Wyoming, and Joseph Machado of Denver, Colorado; granddaughters Ellie and Audrey Machado and Mary Frances and Felicity Krueger; she is also survived by her mother Cecilia (Sillonis) Lodzinski; siblings Robert (Larissa) Lodzinski, Anne (Kevin)

Schmiesing, and Steven (Caitlin) Lodzinski, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her father David Lodzinski and grandchild Karol Krueger.

Prayers and offerings of Masses are most welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Emmaus Catholic Hospice, or St. John Vianney Seminary. https://pancan.org/facing-pancreatic-cancer/patient-services/contact-us/?form=FUNGMWGYGJJ&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20032831867 https://emmauscatholichospice.org/donate/ https://sjvdenver.edu/donate/

Catholic Rite of Committal (burial) on Monday, July 6, 2026 at 10am at Valley View Cemetery, Vale, OR. A Memorial Mass will follow at 11:30am at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Vale, OR. A reception sponsored by the St Patrick Altar Society will follow Mass in the parish hall.