Concepcion Chavez Corral

What exactly is family? To Concepcion “Connie” Corral family took many shapes. Her first family was the family she was born into. Connie was born on December 8, 1949 to Francisca and Jesus Chavez in El Paso, Texas. She was welcomed by four brothers. After Connie, there came four more brothers, and finally, four sisters. (Yes, you read that correctly. Connie was the fifth of thirteen children). This family moved to the central valley in 1962. Connie went to Tulare Union High School, earning her GED there.

Her next version of family was the family she made with Lupe Corral. She and Lupe left Tulare for Redwood City, eventually coming back to Tulare in late 1967/early 1968 not long after having their first son, David. Later, a second son, Darrick, was welcomed to the family.

Connie also appreciated her work family. For a few years, she worked in the Bailey’s factory in Tulare. Later, she was the warehouse manager for Reynolds and Reynolds in Tulare. The company eventually relocated to Visalia. After many years there, Reynolds and Reynolds moved the company to Ontario. Connie was instrumental   in helping the company make the transition to their final location, training employees there. Once they were up and running, Connie retired.

Connie enjoyed retired life for a couple of years and then found out she was “finally” going to be a grandmother with news of the impending arrival of her first grandchild, Aaron (as well as bonus granddaughter, Alexis). When Aaron was a couple of months old Connie began a new career as a childcare provider for him while his parents went back to work. Later, Kamryn and Hayes joined this new, cherished version of Connie’s family.

Family in its many forms were Connie’s greatest joy in life. She would recall gathering on Sundays at her mom and dad’s with her siblings and their families where breakfast would extend right into lunch…. and beyond. She and her sisters loved to hang out together, listening to music, maybe enjoying an adult beverage or two. The extended family would vacation together as well.

For many years Connie had teammates who became like family when she played on both women’s and co-ed fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball teams. 

Connie loved nothing more than doing whatever the kids in her life were doing. She would take them to local concerts in the park and join them on the dance floor, dancing her heart out. Her genuine love for all types of people led her to know just about everyone and she was known by everyone as well. Taking her for a five-minute run to the grocery store for milk would inevitably turn into at least a thirty-minute social outing since she would stop and talk to all of her friends/family. “Hi, Connie!”, “Hey, Connie!”, “Look, it’s Connie!” were constant refrains when she would go out.

Connie passed away on April 26, 2024. She was 74 years old. 

The family she was born into, the family she made, the extended family, the work family, the team family, the friend family, the pet family, .... There were so many different forms of family for Connie. And she loved them all fiercely. 

Connie was preceded in death by her parents, Francisca and Jesus S. Chavez; her brothers Baby Chavez, David, Roberto, and Francisco Chavez, and her sister Yolanda Salazar.

She is survived by her brothers Jesus Chavez Jr., Gilbert, Isidro, and Arturo Chavez; sisters Irma Romero, Irene Gonzalez, and Patricia Martin; sons David (Yvonne) Corral and their children Alexis Cervantes and Aaron Corral; Darrick (Vanessa) Corral and their children Kamryn and Hayes Corral as well as many nieces, nephews, and godchildren, and her family of beloved pets, including Pepper.

Recitation of the Rosary will be held on Monday, May 13, 2024, 6:00 p.m. at Hadley-Marcom, 1700 West Caldwell Avenue, Visalia.  Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 10:00 a.m. at St. Rita’s Catholic Church, 954 South O Street.

Funeral arrangements by Hadley Marcom Funeral Chapel, 1700 South Caldwell Avenue, Visalia.