Elva Munoz, passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her loved ones on June 20, 2021, after a courageous 2 year battle with advanced stage IV ovarian cancer.  Elva was born July 20, 1954 in Morelia, Michoacan Mexico to Imelda Ortiz Chavez and Francisco Cortez Chavez, she was one of five siblings.

Throughout her life she worked in many different industries. She helped her father manage and operate a small convenience store in Morelia. When she immigrated to the United States she worked in agriculture as a packager and field worker.  She was a housekeeper at the Lions Inn, a cook at Don Pepe's and San Martin Restaurants, and a private housekeeper. She was also an Avon Representative for over 20 years. Her most recent career began in 2003 as an in-home caregiver. In 2005 she became involved in the United Domestic Workers Union where she became an advocate and later was elected by her colleagues to be their chapter chair.  She participated in bargaining, served on advisory boards and helped organize many campaigns.  One of her proudest moments happened in December 2011 when she traveled to Washington D.C. as a representative of all UDW homecare providers and stood side-by-side with President Obama as he called for a change to Fair Labor Standard Act to give caregivers the rights to minimum wage and overtime.  In 2012 she received the Labor Leader Award and in 2019 she received the Social Justice Award from the Santa Barbara County Action Network.  She was a member of the Lompoc Valley Democratic Committee where she enjoyed calling people to help guide them in casting their vote for various elections, participated in protests as well going door to door campaigning.

Elva will be most remembered for her strength and always willing to lend a helping hand to friends, family, and strangers.  No matter what she was going through in life, she always had a smile on her face. She was a caring, selfless person and willing to listen to you whether you needed advice, a shoulder to cry on, or had some chisme to share.  If she wasn't working or at home, you could find her at her "office," Johnson's Donuts.   She loved listening to music, especially Jenni Rivera, and watching telenovelas. Elva taught us to never give up, always work hard, and to trust God.

She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Pedro  "Jose" Munoz, daughters Jacqueline (Emilio) Salas and Angelica (Omar) Barron and her 5 grandchildren, Jasmin, Emilio, Diego, Alexander, and Sophia, Her brothers, Humberto Chavez, Armando (Rosie) Chavez, Carlos Chavez, Juan (Maria del Carmen) Chavez, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and Godchildren.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Gerardo Vargas, her parents Francisco Cortez Chavez and Imelda Ortiz Chavez, her nephew, Francisco "Pancho" Chavez, and Goddaughter Erika Yunuen Fraga Garcia.

Visitation will be Wednesday, June 30, from 4-8 pm in the chapel of the Starbuck-Lind Mortuary, with Rosary at 6:30 pm.  Funeral Mass will be Thursday, July 1, at 10 am at La Purisima Catholic Church followed by Burial at Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery. Celebration of Life will follow at Elva & Pedro's home, 624 North Larkspur St.

Elva's favorite things were butterflies, sunflowers and the color yellow, you are welcome to wear any of these to my Elva's services.