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1925 Vidalia 2017

Vidalia Chavez

May 26, 1925 — September 26, 2017

Vidalia (Billie) Chavez, age 92, resident of Albuquerque, passed away early Tuesday morning, September 26, 2017.  She was born May 26, 1925, to Antonio and Teresa Bazan in Alameda, New Mexico.  The Bazan family settled in New Mexico in the early 1800’s.  The Bazan family was commissioned by the Spanish Crown to come to New Mexico to teach the craft of tin-working to the settlers.  Vidalia is survived by her five children, Ben, Michael, Tim, Marie and Christine; eleven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.  Vidalia was preceded in death by her husband, Ben Chavez; and her youngest son, Edwin and she was the last surviving member of her siblings, Urbano, Kati, Carrie and Orlando.   Vidalia attended Albuquerque high school where she was on the drill team.  She was also a folk dancer, sang in a dance band and performed throughout Albuquerque.  Vidalia married her high school sweetheart in the 1940s and they were married for 74 years.  Her husband left soon after to serve in WWII and didn’t return until their first child was 18 months old.  She began her young married life working on her husband’s family farm in Pajarito, N.M.  She and her husband moved to Albuquerque while he went to UNM.  Vidalia and her husband opened their accounting business on 4th St. N.W., where she worked as a receptionist and bookkeeper.  They expanded into real estate, sales and investments and moved their office to Central Ave. in the University Area.   Vidalia was appointed by Governor Tony Anaya to the Workman’s Compensation Board of Revue where she served for four years.  She then returned to real estate and to help her son start a parking business.  Billie, as she was known to all, was a devoted, positive, loving, caring wife, mother and friend.  Services will be held Saturday, October 7, 2017 at the Newman Center on UNM campus at 1815 Las Lomas Rd. NE.  A Rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m. with Mass of Catholic Burial to be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow at the Newman Center.  Free parking is available in the lot located on Las Lomas East of University Blvd.  A private interment will be held at a later date.

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