On the morning of December 9, 2011 at summer house in Palm Springs, Calif., the Lord called out to our mother that her journey here on earth had come to an end and that her new journey to heaven had begun. She embraced with open arms the transition into eternity peacefully, faithfully with dignity. She happily left with the lord knowing that her family would be comforted in prayer, kind words and fond memories of her. Also knowing she would be met by her husband Raymond; daughter Rena; her father, mother and all her brothers and sisters in jubilant reunion. She's anxiously sharing stories about all her loved ones, who continue their journey here on earth. Adela was born September 3, 1920 in Berino, New Mexico to Jose G. Munoz and Maria Melendez Munoz. Adela was one of eight children from a poor family but rich in love. In her early years the family moved through New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona looking for work and eventually settling in the Coachella Valley. Through hard work, determination and a driving force success was now within their grasp in the furrows they toiled in as a family. Every morning Adela greeted the sun in the fields with her father, brothers, Bernardo, Manuel, Jose, Lorenzo; and sisters, Consuelo, Esperanza and Socorro, planting seeds, hoeing weeds, staking tomatoe plants, watering and feeding the plow mules; all before rushing off for breakfast their mother had prepared then rushing to school rushing home again rushing a quick bite before rushing back to the fields. This was their purpose, passion and pride. With growing success came more farming demands and less time for school, so at the end of Adela's eighth grade year her formal education ended but not before she captured the second place ribbon in singles tennis at the play day competition at Coachella Valley High. A feat she was proud of and fondly recalled because as she said, "I was good." The pinnacle for the Munoz family came when they purchased forty acres of sand dunes, mesquite and creosote brush on Hwy. 111 when it was a two lane dirt road between what is now Jefferson and Dune Palm Road. The word around town was that the rattle snakes were going to eat the Munoz family alive. They survived and developed the raw land into a working farm; success had come to the Munoz family with tractors, trucks, cars, a big new house atop a large dune overlooking their land, they had arrived. An American dream realized. All because of family, they were equally as important to one another no more, no less, yet each was as different as the seeds they planted in their soil. They thrived! During World War II the Munoz family, along with other family farms in our valley and farmers across the United States, helped keep our soldiers and all Americans fed and our nation strong. Her brother Lorenzo served in the military during the war and made his family proud. After the war, Adela met Raymond M. Chavez, a decorated veteran at a church gathering. They courted, they fell in love, they married on November 9, 1947, that was the end of being a farmer's daughter and a new start as a housewife. Together they started a family; Rena, Ray and Mary and raised them with purpose, passion and pride. Our mother and her family left their mark on the valley. What was once the family farm is now home to Costco La Quinta and surrounding 40 acres. The memories and visions of our mother and her family working the fields as we drive by will never be swept away by the winds of time. Adela is survived by her daughter, Mary Urquidez (George); and son, Ray Chavez (Rita); and grandchildren, Gina, Robert, Steven Urquidez and Andrian, Carlos Chavez, Sean Teran and Serena Kallejian; great-grandchild, Tuff Priddy. Adela was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Raymond; daughter, Rena Kallejian; a great-grandson; her father, Jose; mother, Maria; as well as four brothers and three sisters. Adela was the last of the Munoz family. Family and friends are invited to a funeral service at Forrest Lawn in Coachella on December 16, 2011 at 11:00 AM.