MATILDE MARTINEZ VASQUEZ

Mar. 14, 1930 – Dec. 28, 2022

Matilde Martinez Vasquez, 92, passed away surrounded by family in her Brawley home t he morning of Wednesday, December 28, 2022.

Vasquez was a lifelong Imperial Valley resident, born to her parents, Sixto Vasquez and Teresa Vasquez, o n March 14, 1930. As a Westmorland native, Vasquez attended Sacred H eart S chool in Brawley until t he 7 grade. A s an a dult, she enjoyed dancing, gardening, s ewing, a nd t raveling. S he w orked at t he J.J.Newberry d epartment store before m arrying Frank Chacon o n March 1, 1954. Their 30 years of marriage led to her raising their three children. During t his time, Vasquez worked hard as a housewife and also as a caretaker for her mother, who she cared for full time.

After raising her children, Vasquez was very proud to have earned her commercial d river's license and began to work as a seasonal commercial driver. During her work, Vasquez would haul cotton trailers and work in tomato s heds. For many years, V asquez w orked locally in a variety of positions within the agricultural community.

Vasquez enjoyed traveling to M exico City, Acapulco, Oregon, Texas, Illinois, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Cancun, and Hawaii, along with h er t rips o n the Carnival Cruise. She also devoted her time to helping raise her grandchildren.

In 2010, Vasquez successfully u nderwent brain surgery to remove a benign t umor. By 2 011, she had been d iagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. In t he y ears t hat followed, Vasquez and h er family began the difficult journey of understanding the disease and finding ways to provide the necessary c are. V asquez's grandson, Eric M iller, spent the majority of the next 11 years caring f or her, w ith s upport a nd help p rovided by h er