Dolores Shoemaker

Dolores Shoemaker, our beloved mother, passed away peacefully on February 16, 2022, at age 105, in Fresno, CA. She was born to Fernando and Rita Chavez in the small mountain town of Torreon, New Mexico, on February 9, 1917. In her early twenties, Dolores, her father, and most of her siblings settled in California to work in various industries supporting the WWII effort. Dolores worked as a welder at the time before becoming a civil servant that eventually led her to employment with Boeing from which she retired as a Performance & Quality Control Analyst. No one ever could persuade her to reveal classified information entrusted to her; she maintained her oath of secrecy to the end.

Dolores’s life defines the meaning of love and loyalty. Family, after God, was her source of true happiness and ultimate joy on this earth. She took over the care of the family after her mother’s passing and that bond between siblings grew tougher than steel. Nothing could weaken it. Many of her nieces and nephews referred to her as ‘Mommie’ and for good reason. She was the rock, the foundation, the love and support that kept the family knit tightly together. She was a mother to us all.

Dolores was no stranger to the night life. She and her husband Ed, whom she married in 1953, loved dancing to the live sounds of big band music at various clubs in and around the Bay Area. She also loved a good road trip. Her travels took her all over America as well as the world with Jerusalem being one of her favorite places, yet her heart belonged to San Franciso. Disneyland was a close second, and it was her desire to introduce the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’ to her children and grandchildren, which she did, and it became a vacation favorite for decades.

Dolores was a devoted Catholic spending years in service as President of the Catholic Daughters and thought of her brothers and sisters in the Church as meaningful family members in Christ. Part of her Catholic service involved becoming a Eucharistic minister. Cooking up a St. Patrick’s Day corned beef, cabbage, and potato dinner was a highlight for her. Another highlight was providing toys for kids at Christmas time. She was always willing to give of her time and efforts to help others in need.

For Dolores’s 103rd birthday bash, family from Alaska, Michigan, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, and the Bay Area celebrated with her to a live performance of Jeremy ‘Elvis’ Pearce. Just as no distance was too much for Dolores to travel to be with her family, her family traveled from far and wide to be with her. Attending numerous Elvis concerts was one of her favorite ways to spend time with family. Playing a heated round of rummy after dinner was another favorite pastime. Ultimately, though, a home-cooked meal with enough food to feed an army usually consisting of green chili, fresh tortillas, and tip-tip with Dolores at the helm was her preferred way to show herlove and visit with family. Birthdays, communions, graduations, baby showers and the like were perfect events to put her cooking skills to use and she cherished them all because she was with those she loved most.

We lost a special one with Dolores, she saw the potential in all things and was able to help us achieve it. Her strength and determination were infectious and her smile, an assurance of success. Her soul has rejoined her heavenly Father, our dear Mother has returned home.

Dolores is survived by her sister Sue Pace; her children Arleen Arini, Jim Shoemaker, Carol Goiburn, and, Debbie (Brian)Trevarrow. Dolores lived long enough to love and enjoy 8 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 4 great, great-grandchildren. She will forever be our citadel of love, hope, and loyalty.