Socorro Emilia Pancoast

SOCORRO (COCO) EMILIA PANCOAST, age 73, of Maricopa, Arizona (formerly of Hemet, California), died Friday, December 25, 2020 at Banner Ocotillo Medical Center in Chandler, Arizona and was born May 10, 1947 in San Bernardino, California to father Pascual Abarca and mother Dolores Valenzuela-Abarca. She joins them in God’s light along with brothers Salvador Abarca, William Abarca, sister Lucy Abarca, and husband William Theodore Pancoast.

Coco worked most of her life as a chef. The highlights of her career would have to be her early days at the Embers and later with her niece at Family A Fair Catering. She was a master at creating delicious meals for intimate settings, as well as, the grandest of parties/events. Her food was her art and how she showed love!

Coco aka “Hot Stuff” enjoyed cooking, cleaning, bingo, gambling, shopping, time with family and friends, and her dogs! Her love for her family was only matched by her hard work and tenacity.

Coco leaves behind her only child, daughter Veronica Tapia of Fontana, California. She also leaves behind her fiancé, Randy McAlpine, Tinkerbell, her Chihuahua and Binky, her Yorkie of Maricopa, Arizona. All of whom she loved dearly.

Coco is also survived by 8 brothers and 4 sisters as follows. Brothers: Tony Abarca, Gilbert Abarca, Jesse Abarca, Bobby Abarca, Alex Abarca, Johnny Abarca, Freddy Abarca, and Jack Abarca. Sisters: Victoria Moreno, Gloria Scroggins, Mary Perez, and Eleanor Baumann. In addition to an extensive list of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

An intimate celebration of her life will be held with graveside service at a Later date in the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.