Connie Vidal

Transplanted into the bustling San Francisco Bay Area, Connie Vidal was deeply and fondly attached to her farm girl roots. If you knew her, you knew the memories of how she never quite caught a piglet, even though the prize for that was to get to keep it as a pet, and how old "Shep" the farm dog would kneel down so Connie could take a ride—a jealous response to Connie riding her own Shetland Pony.

Born in 1934, in Ansley Township, Nebraska, Connie Arlene Dobesh was the first born of Ford and Lona Loine Dobesh. The young family, that then included younger sister Vivienne, born two years later, moved to California in the early 1940s when Connie was in grade school. Connie was ultimately the eldest of 5 loving and supportive siblings, including Vivienne, Shirley, Tom and Nanci.

Connie was bright, quick and adventurous from an early age (There wasn't a boy who could beat her in a foot race). At 10 to 12 she mowed lawns (25 cents for a standard lot and 75 cents for a corner) and contributed to the family finances during lean times. She talked often of being her cowboy-carpenter dad's sidekick on building projects and movie dates. By her senior year in high school, she married and was a mother to Diane Jean at 18 years of age.

Exiting a brief marriage—a courageous act in the early 1950's, Connie capably made a life for herself and her young daughter. While working as a secretary at American Home Foods in Hayward, CA, Connie met Stanley Vidal on the company bowling league. As the story goes, it was frowned upon for women working in the office to date men from the factory. Stanley, an Oakland native, put an end to the pressure and workplace gossip by flying across a desk at Connie's boss, and making his point very clear. This unlikely couple of church song leader Connie and streetwise Army veteran Stan became Stan & Connie forevermore.

By 1954 they were married and Sue Anne was born, followed by son, Kristan A., who passed away tragically at 9 months of age. The births of Jo Anne Elaine and Marianne Faithe completed the family.

Connie's faith was a constant, and Connie and Stan were involved in bringing many young couples to church, providing help to struggling friends, and offering support to other young families experiencing the loss of a child.

Connie brought her farm girl roots to family life in a big way. Settling in San Jose, a small house with a large yard became a canvas for Connie's boundless artistic creativity. A prolific gardener, she grew all the fruits and vegetables that a quarter-acre lot could support, pouring over Organic Gardening magazine and The Farmer's Almanac before either were trendy.

She landscaped and re-landscaped. She built fishponds, storage sheds fashioned into whimsical cottages, treehouses, and so much more. To say that she never stopped, is an understatement and Stanley was always by her side, offering grit, strength and support. She often said, "If we didn't know how to do something, we went to the library and got a book on it." Her efforts included designing and building a second-story addition to the family home.

There wasn't a thing that Connie wouldn't try. She famously took advantage of any class she could take at "the Y," where babysitting was provided for $1! She put almost every skill to use, including perms for women young and old, wedding and specialty cake decorating, flower arranging, fine arts, candle making, and so much more. She organized neighborhood variety shows and wrote plays for her children and neighbors to perform. Once, she transformed Marianne and Jo's childhood bedroom into a Peter Pan Neverland complete with a treasure map mural.

There were layers of bold, adventurous, renegade, and one-of-a-kind attributes to Connie. She simply and quietly went about living life on her terms. No fuss, no labels, no display. She was for women's rights and human rights and worked towards both those things without naming them as such. She camped, loved the outdoors, loved the beach. Loved books, loved word games, and loved bargain hunting.

When it came to family, she would roll up her sleeves in support of any daughter, sister or grandchild in need. Weddings, showers, and fun stuff—but get-away trips and a shoulder in hard times too. An exceptional grandmother, her grandkids and great grandkids enjoyed a unique, grounded, intensely creative relationship: Treasure hunting, art making, snow play, beach play, costume sewing, and birthday cakes.

Stan & Connie thrived in retirement, which began with a cross-country trip to see every state in the nation. On this trip, unaware of the happy reunion that would follow a few years later, Connie encouraged Stan to try to find his daughter from a brief marriage while he was a serviceman stationed in Texas. He declined, in fear that his daughter, Patricia, might not welcome him.

A few years passed and they landed in Paradise, CA, creating a rich and active life where they encouraged their family to visit (or move up permanently), sharing their simple pleasures with everyone they loved. In a happy turn of events, Stan's first daughter, Patricia Ann, re-joined the family. Connie was delighted for her husband's happiness and welcomed Patti to the family wholeheartedly.

Although the Camp Fire brought upheaval and change—Stan and Connie rebounded with grace, and built a sweet final chapter in Chico, CA. Surrounded by daughters and grandchildren, and visited often by her siblings, Connie was loved and supported as Alzheimer's took so much from her over the last several years of her life.

Even in illness, Connie's bravery and intelligence were with her in amazing ways. She never forgot a face and fought valiantly to stay oriented to her life and her loved ones. There were few complaints and no self-pity as the full, creative and industrious facets of Connie began to slip away. She persevered, with grit, integrity and dignity.

Connie died peacefully at home on November 19, 2025, with loved ones in constant attendance. She held hands, listened to music and sounds of the beach, chuckled at her daughters' shenanigans, and told loved ones that she was so glad they had come.

Connie is survived by her siblings, Shirley Chesterman (Ken), Tom Dobesh (Gloria) and Nanci Curtis (Rick) as well as daughters, Diane Neil (Mike), Patricia Williams (Larry) Sue Vidal, Jo Anne Vidal, and Marianne Riera, 12 loving Grandchildren, 15 Great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She has been reunited with Stanley who preceded her in death 15 months earlier, as well as her son Kristan, sister Vivienne Frachia, nephews Keith Chesterman and Paul Dobesh, and her parents Ford and Lona Dobesh. A celebration of life will be held at Terry Ash Recreation Center in Paradise, CA on Saturday, March 21, 2026 where Stan & Connie's ashes will be inurned, together, in the Paradise Cemetery.