Pauline Chavez Puente

Pauline Chavez Puente passed quietly in her sleep at her home in San Diego on February 28, 2014. Pauline was born Pabla Chavez in Corrales, New Mexico, the second of eighteen children born to Adelina and Reyes Fernando Chavez on May 7, 1924. She grew up in the village her ancestors had settled two hundred years earlier in the shadow of the Sandia Mountains, next to the Rio Grande. In 1943 she moved with her family to San Diego. As a young country girl, she was shy to look for work in the big city, so she would walk to town and use the nickel her mother had given her for the bus to hide at the movies each afternoon. Finally, a friend helped her obtain her first job at a malt shop. She decided to call herself Pauline to go with her new life. When she turned 18, she became a Rosie the Riveter. With her model thin build, she could fit into the pods on the airplane wings and buck rivets. She couldn’t serve in the Marines like her brother, but she felt proud she could support the war in her way. While working at Convair, she met her future husband, Rosalio G. Puente. After a whirl wind romance, all of 4 weeks, they were married in Yuma on March 12, 1944. Pauline and Rosie were happily married for 33 years until he succumbed to cancer in 1977. Pauline is survived by her children and their spouses: Merlinda, Ramona, Benito, Daniel and his wife, Deborah, Paula Puente Bekis and her husband, Irvin and her grandchildren: Stephen and Elizabeth Puente Jochem, and Victoria and Michael Puente. She also left behind her dearest friend Angie Fernandez, her dear cousin Ernesto Hernandez and many cousins, godchildren, friends, nieces and nephews. Pauline loved children and helped many a frazzled parent with day care and helping with the needs of their children. Pauline loved meeting people, dressing up and going to social functions. She was active in Hispanic clubs and educational organizations in the 1970’s. Pauline was an active member of her parish, St. Rita’s Catholic Church. She helped found St. Francis Sodality in the late 1970’s and was an active member for over 25 years. Pauline volunteered for many Sodality fund raising efforts including her beloved Christmas sale, Mother’s day flower sale, Lenten fish fry and the annual turkey dinner. She became known for the colorful handmade Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls which she donated to benefit the church. Her family misses her delicious tamales and her lemon meringue pies which no one has ever been able to duplicate. We will miss her peaceful home where her kids and grandkids could always go to find respite. Pauline drew people to her with her social disposition and gentle, generous nature. Pauline was always a lady, makeup perfect, dressing in coordinated outfits and looking just so. She left us a love of family, an appreciation of gentleness and kindness and a joy of the small things in life. The family thanks Pauline’s caregivers, Yoli and Elva, for taking such loving care of her.

Blessed are those who died in the Lord; let them rest from their labors for their good deeds go with them.

Eternal rest grant Pauline, O Lord.

May she rest in peace. Amen.

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Arrangements under the direction of Goodbody Mortuary, San Diego, CA.