Julia Frutosa Chavez

Julia Chavez, born Julia Martinez, 4/25/1919, died July 14, 2019. Julia married Santiago Chavez at the age of 22. They had seven children together, five boys and two girls. Julia was a wife and homemaker for a major part of her married life. She believed in education and training and encouraged her children to pursue these goals as a means of a better life. One of her quotes was, “there is nothing you cannot accomplish if you want it.” She instilled in her children the confidence to try new interests. A woman of many talents; Julia had approximately eleven different occupations during her lifetime. In her early years of marriage, she made ceramics, photographed new born babies and was an excellent seamstress working in her home tailoring and doing alterations. In 1968 she flew to California to make Sarah’s customized wedding dress which will always be a special memory for Sarah. Julia was a member of the Alb. Sr. Quilting club and sewed many beautiful quilts as well as lap quilts for the elderly. That close work, and attention to detail may have been what qualified her for the precise soldering of computer boards for airplanes in later years. One of Julia’s more daring careers was to be a guard at a girl’s detention facility. These and a few other occupations such as caring for the elderly were avenues in which she spent her many talents. Being a very creative person, some of her hobbies were painting, cake decorating, flower arranging, preserving fruits, vegetables and making turquoise jewelry. . She was a generous and hospitable woman. She enjoyed sharing her beautiful home with all her many relatives and visitors. She would often serve them some homemade treats in her beautiful back yard garden. At the age of 94, Julia came to live in California; spending time between her son, Gilbert’s home in Santa Barbara and her daughter, Sarah’s home in Downey. Her final years were spent with Sarah & Jacob Flores and all her loving grandchildren and great grandchildren whom she enjoyed seeing on a daily basis, calling them flowers in her garden. Her special angel and caretaker was granddaughter, Angela Hewitt. Being a deeply religious person, with a special devotion to the Virgin Mary, she was a positive example of grace and courage. Julia blessed this home with her humor, love, wit, and never-ending strength. She is being greatly missed. With peace and love we send her ahead.

Julia is survived by her loving children, Louie Chavez of New Mexico, Leroy Chavez of Wilmington, CA, Robert Chavez of New Mexico, Sarah Flores (Jacob) of Downey, CA, George Chavez (Helen) of New Mexico, Carla Bloom of New Mexico, and Gilbert Chavez (Noelle) of Santa Barbara, CA. Julia leaves behind her grandchildren, Christopher Flores, Jessica Saldana, James Flores, Angela Hewitt, Coby Flores, Andrea Chavez, Antonio Chavez, Katelyn Young, and Santiago Chavez, as well as her great grandchildren, Christian, Ilianna, and Elijah Hewitt, Jacquelyne, Diego, and Sophia Saldana, and Anais Flores, and sister, Teresa Romero (Flavio) of New Mexico. Julia will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to Julia's favorite charity, Smile Train ( https://www.smiletrain.org/ )

Condolences may be sent to the family through our website.