Virginia C. Soto died Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005 in Morgan Hill.
Virginia C. Soto died Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005 in Morgan Hill.
Born Jan. 19, 1918 to Porfirio and Josefina Candelaria, she was the eighth of 10 siblings.
As a girl, her family worked as migrant workers and life was difficult. She lived though the depression era and World War II. She married twice and had nine children. Even without a formal education past the third grade level, she went to college at the age of 48 after the death of her second husband, and graduated with an AA from De Anza College and in her 50’s earned a BA in Social Services from San Jose State University. She went on to have a career as a bilingual social worker.
She is the wife of the late Alfonso Avina and the late Roy Victor Soto; the beloved mother of Alfonso Avina, Margaret Woodhouse (husband David), Theresa Avina (deceased), Manuel Avina, Lawrence Avina (deceased), Theresa Zapata (husband David), Greg Avina (wife Sue), Monica Chipman (husband Colin) and Larry Soto (wife Carlota); the dear grandmother of Stephanie Stewart, Micah Avina (deceased), Dolores Humphrey, Victor Ruben Carrasco (deceased), Juanita Straight, Mike Avina, Alex Avina, Meagan Avina, Eric Zapata, David Zapata, Daniel Zapata, Jesse Avina, Jonah Avina, Jennifer Schipull, Jeremiah Avina, Josiah Avina, Michael Avina, Talena Avina, Kalena Jackson, Dominic Jackson, Kyle Chipman, Jacob Chipman and Adele Soto; the great-grandmother of Vanessa Stewart, Natalie DePina, Jennifer DePina, Jacquelyn DePina, Robert Strait, Ruben Strait, Mason Avina, Natalie Avina, Natalie Zapata, Joshua Schipull and Caleb Schipull; and the great-great grandmother of Elijah Smith.
A vigil was held Tuesday at Habing Family Funeral Home, Gilroy.
Funeral services will begin at noon Wednesday at the funeral home, followed by Mass at Saint Claire’s Chapel located at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, Santa Clara.
Burial will follow at Santa Clara Catholic Cemetery, Santa Clara.
