Mary Porraz Chavez Celebrates 100th Birthday

Yerington NV – July 15, 2026

Mary Porraz Chavez celebrated her 100th birthday on July 14, 2026, marking a century filled with family, faith, hard work and treasured memories.

Mary grew up in Long Beach, California, with two sisters and a brother. During World War II, her family lived on an isolated lima bean farm that helped provide food for the troops. She remembers her upbringing with deep respect and affection, speaking lovingly of her parents and the values they taught her.

Mary was married to her husband, Alfred, for 40 years. Together they raised one daughter, Corrine, and were blessed with two granddaughters. Corrine remembers her parents as a constant source of love and support.

“Mom and Dad were always there for me while I was raising my children,” Corrine said. “I am so grateful for those memories.”

Throughout her life, Mary developed many talents. She was trained in crochet & sewing, and also loved to cook. During the war, she worked at the StarKist cannery. After her marriage, she worked as a seamstress for the Catalina Swimsuit Company, where she helped make pageant suits.

Mary later worked in a retirement community, where she became a chef and dietician. Her love of cooking and caring for others became an important part of her life’s work.

When asked what advice she would give others, Mary emphasized the importance of caring for oneself, living with discipline and remaining grateful. “Always take care of yourself,” Mary said. “I never drank, never smoked and watched what I ate.”

Mary said she is most proud that she listened to her mother’s advice, took care of herself, said her prayers and remained thankful for every day. She hopes to be remembered as “a good person, loving and caring.”

We here at Mason Valley Residence have been blessed with Mary’s company and are grateful to have her as part of our community. We wish Mary many more birthdays filled with love, joy and good health.