Consuelo Nieves Castro "Conchi"

Consuelo Nieves Castro ( "Conchi" ), passed away peacefully into the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on July 2, 2016, surrounded by her adoring children and grandchildren. She had just celebrated her 80th birthday a mere 2 weeks before, on June 12th. Conchi had been hospitalized several times for various reasons including strokes and pneumonia since her open heart surgery in July, 2014. It seemed her health and her old vitality for life never fully recovered since that surgery.

Conchi was born in Isabella, Puerto Rico, the youngest of 11 children born to Confessor Nieves and Maria Samot Nieves. Being the youngest, she was cherished by her older siblings, and enjoyed a special bond with them throughout her lifetime. Her father was a coffee bean and banana plant farmer, but when she was 8 years old, her life changed when she lost her mother. She then went to live with various siblings, including Pilar, Adelina and Damiana. She left her rural home in Puerto Rico to live with her sister Damiana in the bustling metropolis of Brooklyn, New York in 1956. She was just 20 years old.

Conchi immediately found a job, like millions of immigrants before her, in a New York factory, as a seamstress. She was a simple, innocent country girl, trying to live the dream of exciting city life. One day a palm reader read her fortune, and told her that she would marry a man from a faraway place, and that she would have many successful children, and she would travel far and wide. Lo and behold, she soon met Jose Afaisen Castro ( "Joe" ), who was from the Pacific Island of Guam. It was love at first sight for the beautiful couple, and they were married on January 26, 1957. Joe was a Naval Petty Officer.

As a Navy wife, the fortune teller's predictions came true, as Conchi traveled to 5 states where her six children were born --- Elisa was born in New York, Elaine in Philadelphia, Joe & Jesse in Nebraska, James in Washington State, and John in Virginia. When Joe retired from the Navy in 1969, they settled in California where Joe found another job, and after 20 more years, he earned a second pension.

Conchi loved being a wife and mother. Although she had a few jobs here and there, her real career was as a homemaker. Her children were her entire reason for living --- she was very, very proud of her educated and successful children. Conchi had the unique talent of making each child feel that he or she was her best friend. She was a great listener, advisor, and fiercely loyal advocate. She was a wonderful grandmother as well, loving, thoughtful and kind.

Conchi had a special bond with her youngest son, Johnny. It seemed that in her final years, there was a role reversal, as Johnny became her caregiver feeding her and attending to her daily needs.

Conchi had many talents, she was an excellent seamstress who could sew everything from drapes to dresses. She loved to garden and grow flowers, and she never failed to stop at garage sales as she was a keen bargain hunter. She could negotiate in English and Spanish, since she was fluent in both languages. In her younger years, she was a lively merengue dancer and loved all kinds of music. Conchi was a great cook, her specialties included arroz con gandules and chicken adobo. She also had a wonderful knack for investing in real estate --buying low and selling high. She survived the 2007 recession and even thrived while others failed.

Conchi's favorite hobby was playing bingo and playing the slot machines in Vegas and the local casinos. She never, ever tired of the thrill of the sound of the Casino, the bright lights of Las Vegas, and the excitement of being with her friends and family.

Conchi met adversity with courage and great strength of character. She fought breast cancer and endured a mastectomy, and also fought thyroid cancer and rheumatoid athritis. This gentle, tiny woman had herculean bravery , and willed herself to live for her family.

One of the best traits she had was that she had a wonderful, intelligent sense of humor. She could be everything from ironic to simple slapstick funny, but you were always going to laugh if you hung around Conchi .... it is that rare human being who dies without a single enemy, without a single person disliking them, but Conchi is that type of person. Her son Jesse said " She is the best person I have ever known." That was Conchi , the best of humanity.

Conchi was predeceased by her parents, her husband, many siblings, and most recently her nephew Jose Mariano Jr. She is survived by her eldest child Elisa (Nick), granddaughter Kristina Wozniak, daughter Elaine (Emilio), grandchildren Michael & Amanda Martinez, son Joseph (Bonnie), grandchildren Caius & Toni Castro, son Jesse ( Doreen ) and grandsons Joshua & Julian Castro, son James and grandchildren Alyssa & Branden Castro, and youngest child Johnny and grandchildren Britney, Jeremy, Tristan, Savannah and Naryan Castro.

Conchi is also survived by her siblings brother Ramon (Irene) Nieves, Sister Damiana (Jose) Mariano, brother Raul (Esmeralda) Nieves, many beloved nieces, nephews, and extended family. And also the beloved family of her Late Husband Jose Castro.

Please join the family for the following services;

Viewing/Rosary Tuesday July 19, 2016 at Acheson and Graham Garden of Prayer Memorial Chapel from 4-8pm Rosary will begin at 6pm Riverside.

There will be a gathering following the Viewing at Emilio and Elaine Gallegos home in Moreno Valley.

Funeral Mass Wednesday July 20, 2016 at St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church from 12pm - 1pm Riverside

Burial at Riverside National Cemetery Wednesday July 20, 2016 2:01pm Riverside

Reception immediately following the Burial at Acheson and Graham Garden of Prayer Banquet Hall Riverside