Soledad Margaret Chacon

Soledad (Sally) M. Chacon, age 103, of Ontario, CA passed away in her home surrounded by family on Saturday, January 10, 2026. She was born in Los Angeles on February 22, 1922, to parents Soledad Fierro Herrera and Bonifacio Herrera. She had 4 siblings, Samuel, Guadalupe (Lupe), Barney W. and Miguel M., all of whom had passed before her.

She was a 1940 graduate of Garfield High School in Los Angeles, California where she belonged to the Kersey Business Club and received Commercial and Service awards. She mastered shorthand and typing but loved the social dances the most. She was one of the first young people to see Frank Sinatra play with Tommy Dorsey and his band at the Palladium Ballroom Café in Los Angeles in 1940. It was at one of these dances that she met her future husband, Anthony Chacon. It was love at first sight and they married on August 10, 1940.

During WWII, she helped make ends meet by working at the local Lockheed plant riveting planes for the war effort. She was a true ‘Rosie the Riveter’.

The couple are survived by their six children: Anthony S. Chacon [Jill], Gerald M. Chacon Sr. [Maryann], Lorraine C. Hammer [Randy Steven], Robert S. Chacon [Janet], Fredrick L. Chacon [Carol] and Nancy C. Smudde [Paul]. Most of her life was spent caring for these children as well as her mother and father-in-law. She participated in her children’s schooling by helping with homework and typing essays. Their education was very important to her. She loved to sing and sang publicly at The Bainbridge Club in West Covina during the 1960’s and around the house constantly.

When most of the kids were grown, she went back to work part time in department stores until she landed a secretarial position with the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District in 1966. She worked there full time for 20 years until she retired.

Sally is survived by 20 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. She loved spending time with her large family and having dinner parties. She was famous for her guacamole and chili sauce appetizers.

She had a fashion sense born of her early love of movies, so she never left the house without getting dressed up and applying makeup. She stayed up with the times by watching award shows and listening to current music. She even learned to use newer technology and was an avid iPad user well into her 102nd year.

Funeral Mass will be held on February 20, 2026, at 10AM at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Chino, California. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to help wounded veterans at woundedwarriorproject.org.