Carmalene P Zahorchak

Carmalene was born in Los Angeles on July 16, 1938, to Joseph Raffa and Carmela Miale. Her mother passed when she was young and her father re-married Rose Chiara. They had a daughter, Rosemary, her surviving stepsister. In her twenties, Carmalene met and married Richard Zahorchak and they were together for 18 years. She is survived by their three daughters, Jolene, Deanna, and Jenny; their husbands, Alan, Mark, and Ted; grandchildren, Teric, Brianna, Brielle, Colette, Allison, Alexia, and Cassandra; 2 great grandchildren, Roxy and Malakai: along with numerous, beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Carmalene loved motherhood and her favorite occupation was homemaker/stay-home mom. Her daughters’ friends even called her Mom because of her nurturing ways. She worked as a secretary, legal secretary, and notary after her divorce. She was well suited for this as her English literacy skills were precise and she was very detail-oriented.

Carmalene’s priorities were family and her Catholic Christian faith. Home was where her heart was, and she welcomed everyone in. Her talents and hobbies were art, cooking, crocheting – anything creative. These she shared with her loved ones, whether by whipping up a Halloween costume, sewing a dress or cooking a delicious meal for a birthday or holiday. Everyone loved her roasts and spaghetti! Rarely would you hear an unkind word from Carmalene. She had a great sense of humor and her kids could easily get her laughing hard enough to cry. She is now at peace, but will be greatly missed.

Please join us to honor her memory. A funeral mass will be held Friday, June 30, 2023, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 3774 Jackson Street #4359, Riverside, CA 92503 at 1:00 pm. Reception to follow with location details provided by the family at the service.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AchesonandGraham.com for the Zahorchak family.