Helen Rose Pavich

Helen Rose Pavich, 98, passed away peacefully at her home in Delano, California on June 21, 2018 in the loving arms of her son Tom after having spent a wonderful weekend with all of her children and grandchildren. Humble and gracious until the end, Helen will be deeply missed by her dear family and all of those who knew her.

Born Radoslava Ruja Konatich, August 30, 1919 in Veli Iz, Dalmatia, Yugoslavia (currently Croatia), she was the youngest of two children born to Antone and Maria Konatich. She grew up in a small fishing and farming village on a small island in the Adriatic Sea along the beautiful Dalmatian Coast of Yugoslavia. As a small girl she worked her family garden, tended and milked the family sheep and picked olives for olive oil and grapes for wine all in the best interest of the family’s survival and prosperity. She came to America in 1935 along with her mother and brother after her father had left the family and struggled for many years to find a way to come to America and establish citizenship before calling for his family. Not knowing a single word of English at the age of 16, she was immersed into the American culture by being placed in the first grade class of a small one room school house in Tomales Bay, California, a small fishing community in Marin County. Within 6 months she had learned the English language and graduated from 8th grade, and within a few more months, earned her place in the appropriate grade for her age. Her family worked hard, saved their money and eventually bought a commercial fishing boat and opened a seafood restaurant, “Tony’s Seafood” along Hwy 1, which is still in business today and operated by her nephews. Helen was instrumental in expanding the restaurant’s business by cleaning and cooking fresh caught crabs and selling them directly to the public in front of the restaurant.

One summer as a young teenager she, along with her brother, had the opportunity to work in an asparagus cannery in Antioch, California. While there she met her future husband’s sister who later introduced her to her late husband, Stephen Pavich. They married, worked in the family fishing and restaurant business and started a family. Helen was a devoted wife and mother who loved her husband and family dearly. Together they raised three children and were blessed with multiple grandchildren.

Stephen longed to go back to his first ambition, farming, and they eventually settled in Delano in 1953 and bought a table grape vineyard. Along with their two sons Stephen Paul and Tom, the family established Pavich Family Farms. Helen, the matriarch of the family, helped pioneer the organic farming movement and build one of the largest organic farms in the United States.

Helen and Stephen were passionate about their favorite activity, ball room dancing. Helen was a life-long member and past Queen of the Bakersfield Chapter of the National Smooth Dancers. Together they attended ball room dance conventions throughout California.

Helen and Stephen also loved to travel. Together they visited Europe, the Holy Land, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and South America as well the entire United States.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Frances Pavich, Santa Fe, NM; son, Stephen Paul Pavich, Phoenix, AZ; son, Tom Pavich, Bakersfield, CA. Grand children include Lisa Lucas Schroder (Michael) of Santa Fe, NM; Hollie Lucas Alcalay (Orion), Moraga, CA; Dr. Heidi Lucas Rossen (Steven), San Luis Obispo, CA; Tatianna Pavich Clark (Peter), Santa Fe, NM; Stesha Pavich, Venice, CA; Anthony Pavich, Austin, TX and Natalie Pavich Drobny (Eric), San Francisco, CA.

With much love and dedication, Helen’s children assisted her in remaining until her passing, in the home she dearly loved. They will be forever blessed with the memories of her happiness and the time spent with her on a daily basis. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Helen’s dedicated caregivers, Katherine McBride, Oralia Ortega and Mariana Lujan for their years of dedicated care.

Visitation will commence at 5PM, followed by the rosary at 7 PM, Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at Delano Mortuary, 707 Browning Rd., Delano. A church service will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 10AM Thursday July 12, 2018, 916 Lexington St., Delano, CA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to:

Shriners for Children Medical Center

909 S. Fair Oaks Ave

Pasadena, CA 91105

Attn: Donation Dept.