PATRICIA A. CHAVEZ

Patricia, age 83, of Orangevale, passed away on Saturday, January 15, 2011, in Mesa, Az., in the home of her daughter, Maryann Leenstra. She had traveled to Arizona for medical treatment when she became ill. A native of Oakdale, Ca., "Pat" spent many years in Fresno, Ca., graduating from Fresno High School in 1944. As a teen, she worked at Kingen's Five & Dime in Fresno, and later in life she would return to retail as a career. She married John in 1946 and for the next three decades was a dedicated homemaker to her husband and family. Pat also was active in Officers' Wives Club while living on military bases. In 1973 a hobby, needlepoint, brought her back into retail in Oklahoma City. Later, she sold china and housewares at the Denver Store and May Co. store in Denver, Co., and worked seven years at Macy's in Citrus Heights, Ca., before retiring in 1995. Among Pat's many passions were reading, her grandchildren, and helping people. She also loved travel, taking trips to Europe, Japan, China, Mexico, and Alaska. As a girl, she visited the 1939 World's Fair in San Francisco, a childhood highlight. She was a member of St. Mel's Catholic Church in Fair Oaks, Ca., first joining the parish in 1960 while the family lived in Sacramento, and later reconnecting in 1989 when the couple retired to Orangevale. She was the beloved wife of Lt. Col. John Chavez, US Air Force Retired; sister of Clara (Herbert) Castaneda; loving mother, of Michaele Ann Chavez, Jonathan Chavez and his wife Sandra, and Maryann and her husband Steve; devoted grandmother, to Robert and Dana. Friends are welcome for Visitation at Price Funeral Home in Citrus Heights on Thursday, January 27, 2011, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. with Recitataion of the Holy Rosary at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Mel's Catholic Church, 4745 Pennsylvania Ave. in Citrus Heights on Friday, January 28, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. Burial in Fair Oaks Cemetery. The family requests that contributions in Pat's honor be made to St. Mel's. PRICE FUNERAL HOME 635 Sunrise Boulevard Citrus Heights (916)725-2109