Snugly dressed in a furry brown coat, her silver hair delicately styled, Francis Montez simply beamed. She sat in a wheelchair and struggled with an earache, but her joy was unmistakable.
On Saturday at the American GI Forum building on Federal Boulevard in Denver, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, even great-great-grandchildren, had gathered to celebrate her 100th birthday.
They smothered her face and hands with kisses and honored her with prayers, Scripture readings and 100 fragrant roses.
But the day was extra special because tribute also was paid to her husband, Jose A. Montez, a World War I veteran who died in 1938, eight years after they married.
Francis, who never remarried but has had a steady boyfriend for more than 30 years, could be one of the last surviving World War I veteran widows, family members believe.
With more than 150 family and friends in attendance, a color guard presented Montez with a folded American flag, then hung her late husband’s photograph, a black-and-white photo of a young, handsome soldier, on the Forum’s “Wall of Honor.”
Montez dabbed tears from her eyes during the ceremony.
“I was very happy with him,” Montez said of her marriage. “I was sad when he passed.”
Montez, who served in the 3rd Army Infantry and was discharged in 1919, is the first WWI soldier on the wall, said José P. Martinez, commander of the Mile High Chapter of the American GI Forum.
Francis Montez was about 23 years old when she met her husband at a wedding in Walsenburg, said her daughter, Consuelo Padilla, 71.
The couple was from New Mexico, but moved to Denver in 1932. Their marriage ended when Jose Montez died from a head injury, according to his family.
But their marriage produced five children, 20 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great grandchildren.
Gloria Montez, 69, one of Jose and Francis’ two surviving children, said her mother had been looking forward to the birthday party.
“She’s been waiting for this,” said Gloria Montez, glancing at her mother. “She feels pretty good.”
Staff writer Karen Rouse can be reached at 303-820-1684 or at krouse@denverpost.com.
