January 18, 1975 – March 20, 2026

Selena Marlene Trujillo, a beloved daughter of Durango, theatre aficionado, and vibrant presence in the local arts community, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2026, at Mercy Hospice House after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 51.

Born on January 18, 1975, in Durango, Colorado, Selena was a proud lifelong resident whose creativity, warmth, and infectious joy left a lasting mark on her hometown. She graduated from Durango High School, completed the CNM Ingenuity Digital Media Bootcamp, and attended Fort Lewis College, where she most recently worked in the departments of Art and Design and of the Performing Arts. Selena served as a board member of the Four Corners Alliance for Diversity.

Selena built a career that blended artistic vision with technical skill and community connection. She served as Marketing Director for the Durango Arts Center, helping shape the organization’s public presence through innovative campaigns, digital media, and community outreach. Prior to that, she spent many years as a Digital Print Technician at Basin Printing, where her eye for design and commitment to excellence supported countless local projects and businesses.

To many, however, Selena was best known for her work behind the scenes in local theatre. A constant presence in Durango’s arts community, she volunteered her time and talents with Merely Players, the Snowdown Follies, Durango PlayFest, Barebones Burlesque, and Salt Fire Circus as a stage manager, technician, and occasional actor. Her calm leadership, attention to detail, and unwavering support of cast and crew helped bring countless productions to life. Whether coordinating complex productions or quietly solving problems backstage, she was steadying and essential. Her ever-present laughter—booming far beyond her small stature—was instantly recognizable and unforgettable.

Selena was known for her creativity, curious mind, and generous spirit. She had a rare ability to bridge art and organization, bringing people together to create meaningful expressions through the arts. She loved theatre, visual art, reading, and digital storytelling, which she fondly referred to as “digital sorcery.” She found genuine joy in helping others bring their ideas to life.

Selena created community wherever she went. Her core group of friends grew from a shared love of Dungeons & Dragons, fantasy and science fiction, and participation in the SCA, a medieval recreation group. For many years, she treasured her Sunday afternoon gaming gatherings.

She is survived by her siblings, Yolanda Manus of Durango; Evelyn Jean Trujillo of Taos, New Mexico; and Ken Trujillo of Philadelphia and Durango; as well as her nephews Rico Lucero, Marco Lucero, Joshua Trujillo, Christopher Trujillo, and Noah Trujillo, and her nieces Marilyn Trujillo, Melissa Powell and Maya Trujillo. She was predeceased by her parents, Rev. Gene T. Trujillo and Eileen Trujillo; her sister, Anna Lucero; and her beloved dog, Ely.

A celebration of Selena’s life will be held in Durango on April 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 495 Florida Road, Durango, CO, where family, friends, and the artistic community she cherished will gather to honor her memory. A private burial will be held with family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Selena’s name to Merely Players, 49 Wedgewood Circle, Durango, CO 81301, to continue her lifelong love and commitment to creativity and community.