May 7, 1947 - November 9, 2022
Elva Christina Parra passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on November 9th at the age of 75. She is survived by her loving husband of 57 years Luis A. Parra, sons Louie Parra, Eduardo Parra, Gabriel Parra, daughter Adriana Parra Hernandez, daughters-in-law Jonallie Parra and Marianne Parra, son-in-law Carl Hernandez, 8 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren.
Elva was born in Atoyac, Jalisco Mexico where she lived until she moved with her siblings to Tijuana where her family owned a tortilla factory while her mother lived & worked in the LA garment industry as a factory owning and self-employed seamstress. At the age of 16 she and her siblings moved to Los Angeles, to be with their mother, where Elva met and later married the love of her life, Luis Parra.
Elva’s number one priority in life was her family. She raised her kids in Stockton, California while also managing a family-owned restaurant called La Familia in addition to several taco trucks and food service vehicles. Food and cooking became her passion and she shared that passion with her friends and family preparing some of the most amazingly delicious meals ever.
Once her kids grew up Elva started the process of reinventing herself as a true renaissance woman going back to school to study and receive certifications in a number of roles and practices. Elva earned her certificate in cosmetology in Stockton, studied the culinary arts in Napa and San Francisco at the Culinary Academy, became a licensed Ombudsman, worked as a teacher’s aide for grade school students, helped the elderly as a hospice aide, became an accomplished massage therapist, and finally worked as a Reiki master healer. In 1984 she had the privilege of being recruited to work as a head chef for the Olympians at the 1984 Olympics in L.A and also worked as a private chef and catering manager in Stockton, CA. Elva was passionate about all of her roles and accomplishments and helped many people throughout the years.
Elva was an amazing, funny, sensitive, magical and mystical force of nature who made an impact on every person that she met. She was not only a mother to her children but also a dependable confidant and shoulder to lean on to those in need. Elva will be terribly missed by her family and friends. We take solace in knowing that she is at peace and has moved on to the next evolution of her spiritual existence.
Dearest Elva, mother, wife, friend, you will live on forever in our hearts.
Services:
Services for Elva will be held on Friday November 18, 2022 from 4:00 - 7:00pm in the Vineyard Chapel visitation rooms.
Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Parra family.
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