Lucile “Lou” Chapin Colendich passed away February 22, 2018. With her health declining the last couple of years, she suffered a stroke shortly before her death. She was 84.
Lou was the daughter of Johnny and Ruth Chapin and a 5th generation Watsonville resident. She attended Mintie White Grammar School, E.A. Hall Middle School, and Watsonville High School for one year. Having to miss her sophomore year due to epilepsy, she was very proud to end up graduating from Notre Dame High School. Lou went on to Monterey Peninsula College and earned her AA Degree. She was Homecoming Queen in 1954 saying, “the only reason I won was because my boyfriend at the time stuffed the ballot box.” She then attended San Jose State College, San Diego State College, and finally graduated from Smith’s Business College in Santa Cruz. In 1960 she married Martin Colendich in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Lou loved to make people laugh, play cards (P.R.), shopping, and traveling. She loved singing and going to church and was in the choir at St. Patrick’s Church. Her other favorite pastimes were going to the auction at the Fair, listening to country music, and throwing dinner parties for her friends, where she was always the life of the party.
Lou served as a Community Cooking Leader for Aromas 4-H Club and a member of the YLI and the P.V. Historical Society. She was also a member and past president of the Legion of Mary at Valley Catholic Church.
Lou is preceded in death by her husband, Martin, and her brother, John Chapin. She is survived by her two children, John (Marla) Colendich and Kara Colendich; her two grandchildren, Jeffrey and Kayla Colendich; sister-in-law, Nancy Chapin, and her nephews and their families.
Lou requested you wear your favorite color to the services, as she wanted a celebration of her life (no all black).
Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, March 4th, with a recitation of the rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel. Mass will be celebrated Monday, March 5th, at 10:00 a.m. at Valley Catholic Church with burial to follow at Valley Public Cemetery. Donations are preferred to Moreland Notre Dame School or St. Francis High School.
