Bessie M. Chavez

Bessie M. Chavez, much loved mother of Betty Jean (Jose), Pete (Mary), Margie (Victor), cherished grandmother of eleven, a great grandmother of nineteen, and great-great grandmother of one. Bessie is preceded in death by her husband Juan P. Chavez and her only brother Robert Marez. She was born June 23, 1929, after a long fight with Alzheimer’s, while sleeping peacefully at the Beatitudes Campus, she joined the Angels into Heavens Garden. She was 93 years young.

Our mother/nana was born in New Mexico to farm worker parents. In her long-life journey, she witnessed incredible changes to her world. AND, in spite of only completing the third grade, she became a self-taught seamstress, a great wartime letter writer, and an incredible gardener-maintaining the most beautiful red nail manicures!

If flowers grow in Heaven, we hope all the Angels will pick a bunch for us, and place them in our mother’s/nana’s arms, whispering, “they are from all of us.”

Mother/Nana, thank you for showering us with your enduring kindness, love and devotion to our entire family. We love the way you loved our dad through the years, and in spite of your pain and sadness from your loss, you remained strong and courageous, always smiling and reassuring life was great to harvest. We saw all the beauty of that love in your garden! Everything grew with such perfection, and when mother nature changed its course, you replanted with the same love and conviction you shared in nourishing us. We remain part of your garden and your legacy.

Mother/Nana, we love you beyond your amazingly, great tasting flour tortillas, the ones you taught the kids in our neighborhood how to make outdoors in your wooden stove…

We love you beyond your delicious red chili, the one always ready to be shared in a burrito or a bowl…

We love you beyond your great tasting cup of coffee, the smell that permeated throughout your house all day long, it was the best cup of coffee in town…

We love you beyond your beautiful garden and your favorite red roses…

We love you beyond all your unique and creative Wedding Gowns, Quinceanera and First Holy Communion dresses…

We love you beyond all your funnies, that will keep us laughing for a lifetime…

We love you beyond all your beautiful red colored nails, a true fashionista…

We love you beyond all your beautiful jewelry you wore with such amazing style…

We love you beyond all the stories you shared when writing letters to all the forgotten soldiers during war time. We admire the fact that you were learning to write when you were writing them your funnies, always sharing your love and friendship…

We love you beyond all the sacrifices you made along your long journey for us and before us…

We love you beyond watching you grow into your own after dad joined the Angels above. In spite of your sadness, you always wore a beautiful smile to help us along that difficult journey…

We love you beyond your unconditional loving neighborly friendship, you were never too tired or weary, to lend a hand to those in need…

AND, mother/nana, at the end of your long-life journey, when you couldn’t remember our names, we loved you beyond your smiles and I love yous! Your garden and artificial flowers will miss you too! There will never be anyone to love them with the same intensity and conviction of your unconditional and unwavering love!

Mother/Nana, we love you beyond anything in the world, EXCEPT… we could never love you beyond the love you had for us!

Thank you for that unique and creative love you shared so unconditionally, we all remain forever grateful we had you as our mother/nana and friend! We will love you for eternity! Rest peacefully in God’s loving garden!

Memorial services are coordinated by Whitney and Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Phoenix, Arizona 85018

The family would especially like to thank the staff of the Beatitudes Campus, 1610 West Glendale Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85021 for the years of love, care and friendship! Our mother/nana was blessed to have been cared for with so much love and kindness!

Thank you to all of our family friends who helped us through this very difficult journey. Forever indebted to your friendship and kindness!