Consuelo Dobrawa

Consuelo Dobrawa was a woman for whom actions would speak louder than words. Her life motto might well have been “if it isn’t logical, it’s not important.” The qualities of being fair, just and the ability to recognize what was right were clearly driving forces in Consuelo’s life. She was also the kind of person who could respect a “do not disturb” sign, whether it was real or implied. She was analytical and observant, with an ability to be simultaneously spontaneous and keenly perceptive. Consuelo was modest in her actions and extremely literal in her thoughts and in the manner in which she communicated with others. When Consuelo said something, she meant it. All those who knew her appreciated this trademark quality.

Consuelo was born on October 14, 1935 at home with the assistance of a midwife in the family ranch in Cerralvo, Nuevo León Mexico. Her parents were Jesus and Francisca Nuñez. Consuelo was raised in Cerralvo, Nuevo León Mexico. Even as a small child, Consuelo wanted to understand what was right and what was wrong in any given situation. As Consuelo grew older, she realized the importance of being treated fairly, and in return, she treated everyone around her the same way. This belief in fair play served Consuelo well throughout her life and despite her natural shyness; she enjoyed a solid group of friends.

The fact that she was curious was an asset to Consuelo while she was in school. She possessed strong study skills and good concentration. She relished the task of scrutinizing problems, investigating all of the options and then solving them. Consuelo enjoyed tackling the project that was right in front of her and working it straight through to its conclusion. Sometimes, she would become so involved in the process of problem solving that she would lose awareness of her surroundings. Experience was Consuelo’s best teacher. She graduated from Secretarial Vocational High School in 1952. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was writing and shorthand.

Those who didn’t know Consuelo well might have thought her to be objective and somewhat emotionally detached, but family and friends who were close to her knew that she was capable of unexpected flashes of humor. Consuelo’s good friends tended to be “thinkers” like herself. Even though the circle of friends was somewhat small, it was a strong and loyal group, and Consuelo liked nothing better than to spend her free time with them. Consuelo was well known for always being up front and open, never hiding her true feelings, qualities that drew deep loyalty from her friends because they understood and appreciated her for the person she was. Another quality that people admired in Consuelo was her ability to link cause and effect and apply the appropriate connection in her assessment of any new situation. Later in life, she became friends with Virginia Butitta.

This same loyalty and up front honesty Consuelo shared with her friends carried over to other aspects of her life, including her relationships with her family. On July 2, 1954, Consuelo exchanged wedding vows with Ralph A. Dobrawa at the Iglesia Catolica de Cerralvo of Cerralvo, Nuevo León Mexico. The marriage became a solid relationship, due in part to Consuelo’s skill at bringing fresh energy and clarity to meeting Ralph's needs. She was a great listener who enjoyed the couple’s “together” time, especially when it came to celebrating special occasions.

As the family grew, Consuelo was easily able to adapt to the changes and challenges of parenthood. Consuelo was blessed with three sons, Victor, Stephen and Stanley. They were also blessed with six, Lucia, Ralph, Joseph, Angelina, Jessica and Vincent. Consuelo was never impulsive in dealing with family problems. Instead, she would carefully think things through before implementing the solution in a logical and objective manner. Consuelo was a strong, clear communicator who excelled at eliminating confusion by making matters crystal clear to all those involved. At the same time, Consuelo’s inventive nature could turn some of the boring old household chores into a fun activity for the family.

In her work life, Consuelo was the kind of person who had no difficulty in taking on a project and seeing it through to its completion. She excelled at dealing with those pesky details that can derail some people, and once she understood exactly why she was working on a project, she could plow full steam ahead. For Consuelo, being able to grasp the logical components of any task was significant to her in appreciating its importance. Even if she worked alone on an assignment, Consuelo was able to incorporate and welcome new insights from co-workers, and she would readily use them if they improved the process. Her primary occupation was homemaker. She was employed for 57 years as a wife and mother. Consuelo always made the effort to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.

Consuelo’s curious and inquisitive nature influenced her choice of leisure pursuits as well. She applied her strong concentration and analytical skills as to how things worked to her choice of activities. She particularly enjoyed the “alone” time her hobbies provided. Her favorite pursuits were sewing,collecting antiques and metal detecting. Consuelo was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Consuelo had the ability to stay calm and the determination to do what was necessary to get the job finished, traits that helped her enjoy sports. Consuelo was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed following her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were baseball and soccer.

Religion and faith were important to Consuelo. She held dear the faith and values she derived from her beliefs. She was a member the Catholic Church all her life. During that time she was involved in Mass Adoration, Devotion to St. Jude and Our Blessed Mother.

Consuelo appreciated the occasions when she was able to travel and get away on a vacation. She enjoyed learning about different locales and was open to exploring new and different places. Favorite vacation spots included Favorite vacations included Europe, in particular France and England. She thoroughly enjoyed the task of gathering and analyzing travel information as she prepared for an upcoming trip.

Consuelo was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. One of Consuelo’s favorites was she loved her cats Ashley, Booties and Gabbie, she also had her dogs Rudie, Star, Timmid, Rennie and Gooober. They were best friends for five to ten years.

Consuelo passed away on October 2, 2011 at Mercy Hospital in San Diego, California. Consuelo suffered a massive stroke. She is survived by her husband Ralph, sons Victor, Stanley, and Stephen, Daughters-in-Law Zeny, Teresa and Lety. Grandchildren Lucia,Ralph,Joseph,Angela,Jessica and Vincent. And her siblings Jose, Arturo and Alicia. Services were held at St. Pius Church in Chula Vista, California. Consuelo was laid to rest in Miramar National Cemetery, San Diego.

Consuelo strongly believed that talk is cheap. She was the type of person who would show others her feelings through her actions. She was practical and realistic but was able to be flexible when the need arose. She had a curiosity about the things around her and tried to experience life directly rather than sit back and talk about it. The experiences she treasured most were those she shared with her loved ones. Consuelo Dobrawa will be greatly missed.

Funeral services under the direction of Funeraria Del Angel Humphrey