AARON CHAVIRA

OBITUARY

Aaron Chavira of Lancaster, California, passed away on December 22, 2022, at the age of 71. His memorial will be held on January 27, 2023. A viewing will commence at the Haley Olsen Murphy Mortuary located at 44831 N. Cedar Ave. in Lancaster, CA 93534, from 8am-11:30am, with a rosary at 10am, and a church service at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church located at 565 W. Kettering St. in Lancaster, CA 93534 will follow at 12pm. For additional information or to share a story about Aaron, please visit the following link: https://haleyolsen.com/memorials/aaron-chavira/5102243/index.php.

Aaron was born on April 30, 1951 in Santa Rita, New Mexico to Angel and Manuela Chavira. He was one of nine children, and his parents’ eldest son – a position he assumed with great dignity and honor. When Aaron was a young child, he and his family moved from Santa Rita, New Mexico to San Pedro, California, where he spent much of his youth. Here he graduated from Barton Hill Elementary School, Dana Middle School, and San Pedro High School. He then went on to earn an Associate’s Degree from Harbor College, before transferring to Cal State Long Beach, where he studied to become a physical therapist.

While in college, Aaron accompanied his brother on a blind double date, and met Gloria Valderrama, whom he described as the “love of his life.” It is true, it was love at first sight. The two married on October 18, 1975 and settled in East Los Angeles, California, before purchasing a home in West Covina, California, where they raised their four children. A job promotion took Aaron and his family to the Antelope Valley, in California, where he eventually retired as an Administrator with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, and spent the last of his days.

Aaron was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He was intelligent, funny, charismatic, and kind…and he LOVED life. He enjoyed working on house projects and organizing his tools, staying active and going the gym, dinning at local restaurants and experimenting with different cuisine, listening to music and watching sports (Go Lakers!), babysitting his grandchildren, and traveling. In fact, he proudly held citizenship in both the United States and Mexico, and regularly took his family on road trips throughout both countries. He was an exceptional teacher and storyteller, and he incorporated his faith into everything that he did, praying before every meal and every event, and instilling the same value in those whose lives he touched.

Aaron is survived by his children, Cynthia Granillo and her husband, Manuel Granillo, Jennifer Valle, Aaron Matthew Chavira Jr. and his wife, Alexis Chavira, and Maurice Chavira; his grandchildren, Vega Rose Granillo, Rodrigo Valle, Avelina Valle, and Santino Valle; his siblings, Yolanda White and her husband, Bill White, Maria Marez, Veronica DeGuzman, Carolina Chavira, Irene McCarthy and her husband, Philip McCarthy, and Avelina Medina and her husband, Simon Medina, as well as several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Angel and Manuela Chavira, his eldest sister, Christina Murrillo, his younger brother, Alberto Chavira, and his wife, Gloria V. Chavira.