Obituary of Francisco Chaves

Francisco ”Frank” Chaves of Lodi,California, passed away on February 4th, 2022 at the age of 82 years. Francisco was born on January 19th, 1940 to Francisco Vitorino Chaves and Maria Alves Chaves in Fazenda de Santa Cruz, Flores, Açores. He was the youngest of six children. On February 10, 1960, at the age of 20, he immigrated to Antioch, California with his mother, where he began his trade in the dairy industry.

In 1962, Francisco met the woman that would become his beloved wife of 59 years, Laurinda. They married and started a family in Tracy, California. And in 1967 Francisco and Laurinda founded Frank Chaves & Sons Dairy.

Francisco was a prominent member of the Portuguese community and was well known for his servitude to his culture and his faith. In 1970, he was one of the original founders in forming the Our Lady of Fatima Society in Thornton, California, where he served as President in 1973 and 1983, and currently held the position of Grand Marshal. He became involved with the Sociedade Filarmónica Nova Artista Açoriana de Tracy, serving as a Director and President in the early 1980’s. Francisco was a devoted member of the St. Joachim’s Catholic Church in Lockeford, California and was involved in the communities’ efforts to build the parish’s new church in the early 1990’s.

Francisco is preceded in death by his parents and his siblings: Maria Baeta, Amilia Silveira, Palmira DeFreitas, Jose Chaves, Otilia Bartolomeu. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Laurinda Chaves, his children, Frankie (Benvinda) Chaves, Stanley (Christina) Chaves, Scotti (Adeline) Chaves, Betty (Joe) Rocha, Joe (Lisa) Chaves, and Laurie Salbeck, his grandchildren, Kasaundra Chaves, Brittney Chaves, Alexandria Jones, Brandin Chaves, Victoria Garcia, Steven Chaves, Jacob Chaves, Joseph Rocha, Andrew Chaves, Sabrina Rodgriguez, Johnathan Rocha, Rachel Chaves, Sarena Chaves, Alyssa Chaves, Benjamin Rocha, Joe Chaves, Braden Salbeck, Lucas Chaves, Trinity Salbeck, Drake Salbeck, and his great-grandchildren, Aaliyah Awan, Isabel Awan, Leena Awan, Dorthie Jones, and Isaiah Cortez, his godchildren, nieces and nephews, and many other extended family and friends. He will forever be loved and held dearly in their hearts.

Viewing will be held on Monday, February 14th, from 3 – 6 pm followed by the recitation of the rosary at 6:00pm in the chapel of Lodi Funeral Home, 725 S Fairmont Ave, Lodi, CA 95240.
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Funeral mass in honor of Francisco Chaves will be held on Tuesday, February 15th at 10:00am at St. Joachim’s Catholic Church, 13392 E. Lockeford Ranch Drive, Lockeford, CA 95237. Francisco will be laid to rest at the Cherokee Memorial Park at Hwy 99 & Harney Lane, Lodi, CA 95240.