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CHAVEZ, ANTONIO (TONY) JR. Age 92, a lifelong resident of Santa Fe, NM, was called into the arms of Our Lord on Monday, March 3, 2014. Tony was born to Maria (Sena) Chavez and Antonio Chavez, Sr in 1921. A memory that stayed with Tony was losing his mother at age 10 and being sent to St. Anthony's Orphanage, a home for boys, in Albuquerque. This was a Catholic School run by German nuns who were very strict disciplinarians. He said to himself, "This experience would come in handy later in the Army." He attended St. Francis Catholic School, Harrington Jr High, and graduated from Santa Fe High class of 1939. Tony was a WWII veteran, drafted into the US Army in 1942, achieving the rank of Sgt in the 447 AAA Battalion. Tony was in the Europe Theatre stationed in England, France, and Germany. He stepped on an anti-personnel mine and was discharged from the Army in 1945 due to his severe injuries that plagued him throughout his lifetime. Tony was decorated with the Europe Africa Middle East Medal with four Clusters, The Purple Heart, The American Campaign Medal, The Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and The French Medal of Freedom. Tony was very proud of his military service and was instrumental in establishing the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 372 in 1966 where he served in an official capacity until 2010. Tony was a mailman with the US Postal Service for 38 years and would often say how much he loved that job. He was a very devout Catholic and a member of the Confradia de la Conquistadora, St Jude League, Sacred Heart League. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and Charter member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart #372 and was also a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers, the Union Protectiva, and the Santa Fe Senior Center. He met and married his wife of 40 years, Margarita (Margie) Varela, while they were both working at Bruns Army Hospital in Santa Fe in the late 1940's. From that union, were born three daughters and one granddaughter whom he loved with all his heart. Tony was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather and always made sure he did the best he could for his small family. He would take his little daughters for rides in the car to see the lights on Cerrillos Road and then for ice cream at the Mighty Nice ice cream shop where the Roundhouse now stands. When his granddaughter was a little girl, he would often take her for rides around his neighborhood in a little red wagon. That was such a special moment for both of them. Tony instilled strong values in his daughters and granddaughter and taught them to be honest, hardworking, and trustworthy which are values they carry with them to this day. Tony's hobbies were fishing and deer hunting. He enjoyed many hunting trips with his brother Alfonso and his nephew Mike. The family would often enjoy brook trout he brought home from his fishing trips and sometimes venison from his hunting trips. Tony is survived by his loving daughters, Angela Chavez (Roger Hoek) of Albuquerque, Christina Romero (Harold) of Santa Fe, Judy Esparsen (Kelly) of Albuquerque; his one and only granddaughter Vanessa Romero of Santa Fe; his brother Rudy (Patricia) of Florida; his sister-in-law Katie Chavez; nieces and nephews; and special friend Laura Mendoza. The family wishes to express special appreciation to Tracie Alghren, his friend and nurse, and his health care aids Beverly Soto and Bonnie Nieto of whom he was very fond. Preceding him in death are his loving wife Margarita, an infant son, his parents, and siblings Flora Williams (David), Triny (Josephine), Johnny (Bessie), Vito Coca (Tommy), and Alfonso. We will miss our daddy and grandpa more than words can ever express and we know he is in eternal life with our Lord in heaven. Visitation will be Monday, March 10, 2014 from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm with a rosary at 6:00 pm to be recited by the Union Protectiva at Berardinelli Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be recited on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at 10:00 am at The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Burial service with full military honors will be at the Santa Fe National Cemetery on Guadalupe St. immediately following the Mass. Pallbearers are Patriots of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 372. Honorary pallbearers are Ruben Montoya, Pascual Baca, Oscar Jordan, Mike Chavez, Roger Hoek, Harold Romero, Kelly Esparsen, Frank Angel, Dwayne Hoek and Jimmy Chavez. Berardinelli Family Funeral Service 1399 Luisa Street Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505) 984-8600 Please sign our guestbook for the family at: www.berardinellifuneralhome.com
        Published on: Sun March 09, 2014