Alfonso Cabrera

Alfonso Cabrera, age 91, of Orange, California passed away on Sunday, August 7, 2022. Alfonso was born August 2, 1931 in the neighborhood of La Paloma in the El Modena area within the City of Orange. He was the son of Margarito and Lucia Cabrera, and was born in his family home.

Alfonso attended Laurel Elementary School in Los Alamitos and then Anaheim High school through the 8th grade. He was forced to discontinue his formal education to support the family business of feeding hay to the local dairy farm cows in Los Alamitos. However, he was a self-taught, life long learner.

Alfonso's life partner was Irene Perez Cabrera, they met in El Modena on their way home from church. Alfonso enlisted in the US Navy and served as a Boatswain's mate in the Korean War for 4 years. Throughout those 4 years Al maintained correspondence with Irene and he proposed to her through the mail, sending her engagement ring in a letter from Japan. They were married upon his discharge from the Navy and began the rest of their lives together. They were married for 68 wonderful years.

Alfonso was the family provider - he was a Postal Worker with the United States Service (USPS) for 31 years, an employee with Anaconda in Old Towne Orange and eventually accumulated and managed his own properties.

Alfonso and Irene had 7 children total - Martin (deceased), Michael, Laura, Loretta, Luvina and Lucia (John, baby lost full term in 1960). They had an assortment of animals throughout their lives that included pigs, chickens and geese but most recently dogs, Harriet and Cookie. They have a total of 21 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren with more on the way.

Alfonso was a quiet man, an avid reader, a follower of politics, unassumingly opinionated. He was unwaveringly supportive of all of his children and worked hard to provide the best. He always encouraged his children to get an education mainly because he was not able to do so. He is best remembered by his family as being a loving, kind and nurturing father. He was a great provider and loved each and every one of his family members. He was a faithful and loving man to his wife Irene. It's almost impossible to think of Al without Irene, although they were two very opposite people personality wise, they just worked. They were soulmates and one could not live without the other.

If Irene was like a sunflower, vibrant and loud, Alfonso was the steady soil that provided the nutrients and support for her. If Irene was like a Canary, Al was like an Owl, silent, wise and watchful.

Alfonso enjoyed reading whatever he could get his hands on - books, newspapers, online articles. He enjoyed watching things grow, such as his garden filled with various fruit trees, and his own family tree, both of which continue to flourish and thrive thanks to his love and care. He loved to travel and he and Irene saw much of the world together. He appreciated the simple things in life and passed this gift on to his children. The man loved his snacks, whether it be a bag of sunflower seeds, a bag of Cheetos, fruit from his trees or an ice cream on a hot day. He was kind, humble, intellectual and devoted.

He is survived by his son, Michael Cabrera, his daughters, Laura (Marco) Lopez, Loretta (Robert) Castro, Luvina (Edgar) Martinez and Lucia (James) Venegas, brothers Lupe Cabrera, Koondy Cabrera and sisters, Martha Lopez and Cora Cabrera, 21 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene and son, Martin.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.fairhavenmemorial.com for the Cabrera family.