Conception Gonzales Huizar

A Virtuous Woman

Conception Gonzales Huizar, better known as “Mom,” “Nana Chony,” or “Tia Chony” (and “Chonita” by her brother Jose “Tito”), was born on October 7, 1933. She was raised in “La Colonia,” the Eden Gardens community of Solana Beach, CA. At 90 years Conception was one of the most long-lived Solana Beach residents. Conception’s parents were Salvador and Cipriana Gonzales who also resided in “La Colonia” since the early 1930’s.

As the youngest daughter, preceded by brother Frank, sisters Maggie and Sally, and followed by younger brother Jose, Chony was well protected (spoiled) during her youth. Determined to learn life skills, Chony began doing housework in Rancho Santa Fe during her mid-teen years to provide money for herself and the family – a life lesson.

Chony had long, sculptured fingers, ideal for playing the piano. During her early years she enjoyed taking piano and developing a love for music. Her music genres spanned many generational styles in English and Spanish, from early classical to R&B, Oldies, Spanish Románticos, and Christian Gospel.

The love of Chony’s life, Eduardo (Lalo), was also born and raised in La Colonia de Eden Gardens, where they were in the same class in elementary school. There is a picture showing both at the Americanization School in Eden Gardens. Lalo and Chony married on September 24, 1955, after Lalo returned from serving in the Army during the Korean War.

Lalo and Chony remained life-long residents of Solana Beach. They were closely nestled near in-laws,’ brothers and sisters, and many, many cousins. This provided a solid foundation for raising their four children: Nadine, Eduardo Jr. (Eddie), David, and John (Johnny).

During the early years of marriage, while the children were in elementary, middle, and high school, Chony worked regular part-time cleaning jobs, at a house in Del Mar and another in Rancho Santa Fe. Her father, Salvador, was the gardener and kept up the orange groves at the house in Rancho. Chony did this to ensure the family had enough income yet she was always home when the chidren returned from school. Home-made supper was regularly prepared and ready at 5:00 pm, so the family could sit together for supper. - another life lesson.

Chony and Lalo’s strong unity provided a stable foundation, dedicated to family, relatives, friends, and the local community. Chony always supported her children’s education and involvement with sports, and other activities. They constantly joined with relatives for birthday parties, or weekends at Nana Isaac’s little house. There were also numberous camping trips, Mexico vacation trips, and many Las Vegas trips to celebrate Mother’s Day, Lalo and Chony’s Anniversary in September, and both their birthdays in October. You could count on Lalo and Chony always, joyfully, being together and friends and relatives always felt the love encompassed by them – another life lesson.

Chony was frugal with managing household finances, ensuring bills were never behind, giving Lalo his “allowance,” and savings for emergencies, celebrations, and vacations. The house was always in order. When Chony’s mother, Cipriana, developed dementia, Chony provided daily care, taking Cipriana to all her medical visits, and managing her finances. For over 12 years this was a daily task, knowing the rewards were not that her mother’s mental status would improve but that her mother, Cipriana, was safe, dressed, fed, properly provided for, and loved – another life lesson.

There is a special love that only grandmothers can provide. Nana Chony fulfilled that role with exuberance and grace to her seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. When Chony’s sisters passed, she assumed the loving maternal role with the same loving of her sisters towards the nephews and nieces. In addition, Nana Chony also had many “adopted” grandchildren from David and Dede’s other nephews and nieces. As more younger children or young adults would surround her, they desired to call her “Nana Chony” which she compassionately allowed. Even her Kaiser medical heart doctor, Juan Carlos, asked to call her “Nana Chony,” as he too sensed the love and grace of an elderly mother’s love towards which everybody gravitated.

Steadfast dedication, loving kindness, always dressing elegant, and expressing a joyful, compassionate smile, are just a few attributes of this great woman. She was known to have a quiet spirit and sympathetic ear when others would bring their life troubles and challenges to her; yet, she was available to sit and listen without lecturing or scolding. As flowers give off beauty, peace, solitude, and a nice aroma, Chony’s compassionate heart expressed the same. Another example of Chony’s character can be found in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” - another life lesson.

Chony went to be in the presence of her Lord and Savior on November 28, 2023. 90 years on earth, now eternity in heaven.