Candice Ward

Candice Jane Ward was born on June 18, 1948 in Omaha, Nebraska. She was the first of three children born to Cliff and Nomy Ward, and the first of fifteen grandchildren in the Albert and Ruth Anderson family. The family moved to Wakefield, NE when Candy was a year old, and then to Denver in 1957. Candy graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Southwest Denver. In early years, she was known as “Janie”, but later acquaintances know her as “Candice” or “Candy”. After the family moved to Denver, they enjoyed holiday and summer visits to Wakefield, Norfolk, and Omaha Nebraska to visit family. Family relationships were very important to Candy. She loved recounting stories about family members. She also recognized the importance of the families of her friends and frequently enquired about them. Candy was 100% Swedish and very interested in and proud of her heritage. Her grandparents or great grandparents came from Sweden and established homes in the Midwest. Candy enjoyed exhibiting Dala horses, and using household items such as clocks, drinking glasses, sweatshirts, and tote bags adorned with the Swedish symbol. Candy had a good collection of Swedish cook books. She also enjoyed the special Swedish foods prepared by her family for special occasions: Fruit Soup, Swedish Potato sausage, pickled herring, limpa bread, and Lingonberries were among the holiday treats. Chocolate was a favorite food at all times! Candy loved classic books and movies and valued her extensive collections of each. She enjoyed going to the movies with her brother Paul. Candy enjoyed needlework including cross-stitch, crewel embroidery, and crochet. The Rheumatoid Arthritis that attacked her body limited her ability to pursue these interests in later years, but she left quite a bit of her handiwork behind including afghans, placemats with the Swedish Table Prayer cross stitched on them, and a dozen floral quilt squares. Candy worked for over 20 years at Presbyterian Saint Luke’s Hospital in Denver. She worked initially as a nurses’ aid, and eventually as a medical secretary. She drove to work in her precious Volkswagen Bug, and was very proud to be recognized as Employee of the Month. After the passing of both of her parents in 2011, Candy made her home at the Eastern Star Retirement Campus Assisted Living Community. The loving encouragement of staff and neighbors brought a new sweetness to Candy’s life. Candy is survived by her brother Mike and wife Lorna of Tucson, AZ, and brother Paul and wife Lucinda of Denver; nephews and nieces, Zachary Ward and wife Cheryl of Chicago, IL, Jacci Miranda and husband Ryan of Westport, MA, Cameron Ward of Seoul, South Korea, and Katie Short and husband Tim of Phoenix, AZ; her aunts and uncles, Phyllis and Jack Hall, Johnston, IA, Lois Felt, Denver, CO, Evonne and Jeff Burkink, Norfolk, NE, and Don and Carol Ward of Parker, CO. and many cousins. Memorial gifts may be sent to: Eastern Star Retirement Campus In Memory of Candice Ward 2445 South Quebec Street Denver, CO 80231