Ophelia "Ophie" Chavez

Ophie was the youngest of 5 children born to Jesus and Mary Reyes on July 10, 1943, in Corona, CA. She attended parochial and public schools and graduated from Corona High School in 1961 where she was a member of the LULAC club and played volleyball and field hockey. After high school, she began working at Security Bank where she had various roles including bookkeeper, safe depositor, and supervisor. She also attended classes at Chaffey Junior College in Alta Loma, CA and Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA. Through friends, she met Hector Chavez, a machinist from Chino, CA and they married in 1968, honeymooning in Carmel where they fell in love with the beauty of the Peninsula. They settled in Pomona, CA for their first 3 years and had a son, Erick, and then moved to Santa Ana, CA and had a daughter, Amy.

In 1979, Ophie and Hector decided to pursue their dream of living on the Monterey Peninsula. While finishing her associates degree in Sociology at Monterey Peninsula College, Ophie began working as a teacher’s aide at Monte Vista Elementary School. Ever passionate about helping others, she found her calling as an aide in the Special Education classroom. Her patience and kindness with the children earned her the Anne Sullivan Award – a county-wide peer nominated award for educators who exemplify compassion and guidance with children with disabilities.

In 1986, Hector decided to take his love for bicycling to a new level by opening a bicycle shop, Winning Wheels in Pacific Grove. Always a supporter of her family’s dreams, Ophie left her job with Monte Vista to manage the business end of the bike shop. She was also part-owner of the shop with her husband and took great pride in that. The cycling community was like a 2nd family to her, and she loved the many wonderful friendships that developed over the years. In 2021, at age 78, health issues forced her to retire. She often said afterwards how much she missed seeing the people who would regularly come into the shop.

Ophie had a passion and talent for cooking all styles of food. She loved having her family over for dinner, entertaining guests, and celebrating the holidays. Every family member’s birthday was celebrated with a homemade cake and Christmas was always a big feast and plenty of cookies and desserts. She poured her love into everything she made and loved to see everyone enjoy it. You never left her home hungry. In addition to cooking, Ophie was also quietly talented in pottery and watercolor and was an avid reader.

She was a feisty and stubborn woman at times – she didn’t take heat from anyone. But if you knew her, you could see she had a heart of gold. A loyal friend to many, Ophie always had a card ready for any occasion and cards and postcards to just drop a handwritten note to let you know that she was thinking about you. Hugs from Ophie (and a cup of coffee) were always available if you needed one – and even if you didn’t think that you needed one. Family was important to her. She strongly believed in family staying connected no matter how far apart they are and that they take care of each other. She was deeply proud of her husband and children, adored her daughter-in-law and two grandsons and cherished the time she spent with all of them.

Ophie is survived by her husband, Hector of Pacific Grove, son Erick (Roni) of Monterey, daughter Amy of Seattle, grandsons Daniel of Oakland and Brandon of Monterey, her sister Mary Ann Barba of Norco, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and beloved friends. She is preceded in death by her brothers John, Herbie, and Ray Reyes.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, June 24 from 4-7pm at The Paul Mortuary on Lighthouse Ave. in Pacific Grove. A mass will be held on Wednesday, June 25 at 10am at St. Angela Merici Church on Lighthouse Ave. in Pacific Grove with a burial at El Carmelo Cemetery on Asilomar Ave. Immediately after a celebration of Ophie’s life will follow at American Legion Hall Post 41 at 1110 Veterans Drive in Monterey. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Central Coast VNA & Hospice or your local hospice organization.