The world became a little less bright with the passing of Concepcion “Connie” Martinez Cordero. She loved her family, enjoyed dancing, easily made friends that developed into lifelong friendships. A kind hearted soul with a huge heart, she could not turn away someone in need, whether it was a stranger sent to her home looking to be cured of “Susto” or “Mal de Ojo” or when she hosted a family after their home had burned down. If she could help, she would.
Connie was strong willed, almost to the point of being stubborn, whether it was pushing her husband to buy property while they were living on the ranch or pushing herself to learn to walk again after her first brain tumor was removed. Once she set her mind to something there was no stopping her.
A favorite memory of Connie was when she would lose her keys. She would be searching throughout the house frantically, suddenly stop, take a moment to say a prayer to Saint Anthony, Patron Saint of lost things, then back to frantically searching for her keys. As part of her prayer, she would make a deal with St. Anthony which was always a promise to do a dance when she found her keys. Sure enough, once she found her keys, she would begin to do her dance.
Connie Cordero was married to Abelino Cordero, who passed away in 2003. They were married over 40 years and raised their family in Shafter since 1962. Connie leaves behind 6 children, Abelino Jr. and wife Teresa, Yolanda, Rudy, David and wife Irma, Rose Marie and husband Lance, Ricky and wife Yolanda, sister Sara, brother Victor, 23 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild and countless friends.
