PARKER. Antonette Julia “Toni” Trout-Mikel of Parker died Oct. 19 of cancer. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Bishop James Golka on Oct. 29 at Ave Maria Parish in Parker, followed by interment at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Elaine Tourville, who served as volunteer librarian for Holy Apostles Parish for more than 30 years, died Aug. 13. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Oct. 25 at Holy Apostles.

On Feb. 5, 1918, Spencer Penrose, who was in the midst of building the Broadmoor Hotel, wrote a letter to Bishop J. H. Tihen of Denver, indicating that his wife, Julie Penrose, was “anxious” to build a small Catholic chapel near the hotel. He enclosed proposed drawings for the chapel and indicated it would be built on land donated by the Broadmoor. He estimated the cost would be between $10,000 and $15,000. Bishop Tihen approved, as long as the property was controlled by the church, and by September the project was underway. On Sept. 5, 1918, noted local architect Thomas MacLaren sent the bishop blueprints for the new chapel.

COLORADO SPRINGS. It’s hardly news that planning for death — or, more precisely, for what happens after it — may be the least popular to-do list item ever.

Yet consider the alternative: if a person dies without putting their wishes down on paper, they leave the funeral planning in the hands of grief-stricken family members who may or may not practice the Catholic faith. Increasingly, the Catholic Church is encouraging parents to spare their kids the anxiety of working through funeral details.