Maudette Packer

Precious Memories

Maudette Sandra Packer “Maude” was a native of Denver Colorado. She was born on September 25, 1959, to loving parents, Clifford and Anna Marie Packer. Maudette was a Mother, a Sister, a Aunt, and a great Friend, but her most beloved title was GRANDMA.

Maudette attended the Denver Public Schools, where she thrived as a shy straight “A” academic student. She attended, Whittier Elementary, Morey Middle School, and Manual High School where she grew into her renowned personality that we all know and love. Maudette grew up in east Denver and was raised by her name’s sake grandmother, Maude Packer. She absolutely adored her grandmother; and she was everything to her. Maudette loved spending quality time with her, she loved to sit between her legs as she got her hair twisted, while they talked.

As a child, Maudette enjoyed being around friends so she was very active at the Glenarm Rec. Center, the Red Shield Community Center, she also liked hanging out at Congress Park with everyone. As Maudette would like to say “those were the days.”

Maudette was an avid professional sports enthusiast following in the footprints of her parents. She followed basketball, baseball, all year around track & field and never missed seeing a Denver Broncos football game. Maudette always enjoyed Wednesday nights when she met up with The SWA bowling team she was on with Diane and Charlene. Maudette would look forward to travel to bowling nationals. She really enjoyed planning family events and she couldn’t wait for the excitement of Friday night when we would all gather to go place bets at the Dog Track. Maudette was a fashionista and a food connoisseur, as there was no menu item she would not try. Maudette was widely known for hosting the NCAA March Madness Basketball tournament pool which she had done for the past twenty-five years. This legacy will continue to thrive every March through her children, Kelan and Brittany.

Maudette’s bond with her children was unconditional and unbreakable. Her daughter, Brittany, who she called “Muff” was her lifeline, her right hand man and confidant. They did everything together there wasn’t one thing she did do without asking “Muff what you think” Brittany spoke with her mother countless times every day to manage her medical care, coordinate Caryce’s activity schedule for the day and week and then to dig deep into Brittany’s hourly comings and goings, she wanted to know everything that was going on. Maudette would always end her conversations to Muff with “what’s for dinner?” and “I Love You.”

Her son, Kelan, who she deeply loved and called him “Tito.” he lived with Maudette, he called her “momma bear.”  Kelan was the man of the house and Maudette always depended and counted on his comfort and care when she needed him. His unconditional love and support made Maudette feel calm and secure.  Maudette and Kelan would discuss the findings of her day and their conversations would always end with her famous question,  “what’s for dinner?”

Maudette was a daunting mother figure to Caryce, who she called her “Lullaby”. Her favorite person as she often said. Maudette mimicked her caring actions towards Caryce just like her grandmother, Maude had done with her. From the time Caryce was born, Maudette devoted all her time and love to Caryce. There bond was like no other. Maudette was a strong woman, who fought to live through every day for her kids and granddaughter.

Maudette had individual bonds with each of her siblings.  She would have conference calls daily with her sister, Joni and brother, Butch of up to 20 times a day to talk about the weather, sports, TV shows, and much much more. Their calls always ended with Maudette asking “what’s for dinner?” and “I Love You.”

Maudette also talked several times a day to her sister, Lori, who was her best friend and the sister that she was raised with. They would talk about family, sports, the kids, and any upcoming family events. Their conversations too always ended with Maudette asking the question “what’s for dinner?” and an “I Love You.”

Maudette and her brother, Dino would talk several times during the week to check in with each other to see how they were doing, talk about family, the previous weeks sporting events, his job and of course their conversations would end with Maudette asking him “what’s for dinner?” and  “I Love You.”  Maudette appreciated the little things in life like Food, Family, and her phone. She loved her dogs like family.

Maudette treasured the time she spent with her cousin, Julie Atencio. Julie was not only her care giver who took her to Dr. appointments, but Julie was her girlfriend, who made their time together more like a girl’s day out where they would talk, laugh, sometimes cry but their day together always ended with lunch, a peanut butter cookie, a hug, a Thank You and “I Love You.”

Maudette started her career at The Air Force Fnance Center, where she was a Payment Processing Clerk for the government. She was also a Credit Analysis and Credit Manager at Imperial Mortgage Company. Maudette was a real mathematician at heart.  She will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known this Queen of a Woman.  To know Maudette was to love her.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Clifford and Anna Marie Packer; grandparents, Hal and Maude Packer and Silvano and Emma Osckel.

Maudette Sandra Packer departed this life on November 29, 2021, in Aurora, Colorado.  She leaves to cherish her loving memories Michael Benford, whom she shared a special bond; her children, Kelan Benford & Brittany Benford and Toria Manuel; her adored granddaughter, Caryce McMillian; Maudette had several bonus children, Salina, Danette, Lavon, and the love of her life, Laffeyette. her godchild, Ma’lyk Watson; her beloved fur babies, Bo (RIP), Caution (RIP), Pretty Rickey, Giz and Rhome; her brothers, Clifford Packer Jr. and Dino Packer; her sisters, Lori Marshbank all of Denver, and Joni Milton of Houston, Texas; her significant aunts, Jacqueline Craig, and Lou Atencio; her best Friends, Sherry Richardson-Ellis (Buggy), Linda Brown, Charlene Slay, Diane Watson and Pam London; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many friends.