A viewing will be held from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Thursday at Habing Family Funeral Home. Family and friends are also invited to a mass celebration at 11:30 A.M., Friday at St. Mary’s Parish. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Condolences and Guest Book at HabingFamilyFuneralHome.com In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Joe’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California, at www.alz.org/norcal/.
Joseph A. Serrano, a retired truck driver who loved fishing, woodworking and dancing to Mexican music, died Thursday in Chico, Calif. He was 87.
Born in Guadalupe, CA. Joe spent his early childhood in Canta Ranas, one of nine barrios in El Monte, CA As the eldest boy, Joe helped his father irrigate alfalfa fields and pick turnips and radishes to sell at the farmer’s market.
In the late 1930s, the family moved north to Gilroy. Joe attended San Ysidro School and graduated from the eighth grade. At 17, he married Lupe Ayala of Gilroy.
An eye injury kept Joe from joining the military during World War II, so he moved the family to Richmond, CA to work in the shipyards. After the war, he and Lupe returned to Gilroy and bought a house on Chestnut Street.
Joe made a living working with his hands, always striving to better himself and improve life for his family.
He worked for Renz Construction, and for Moretti Trucking as a long-haul driver. From 1975 until he retired in 1988, Joe drove a cement mixer for Central Concrete in San Jose, CA. A member of Teamsters Local 287, he was a lifelong supporter of organized labor.
Joe ingrained in his children a strong work ethic, the importance of family, and pride in their Mexican-American heritage. During the 1950s and early 1960s, he and Lupe dressed up for dances at Wheeler Hall, and invited relatives and friends to their house to sing and dance to Mexican music.
On weekends, Joe enjoyed backyard barbecues or playing softball at Mt. Madonna Park with the family. Win or lose, he loved his S.F. Giants and 49ers A self-taught man, Joe also liked reading and crossword puzzles.
In March 1993, Joe and his wife repeated their vows at St. Mary’s Parish for their 50th wedding anniversary. Lupe preceded Joe in death on Feb. 23, 2003, 11 days shy of their 60th anniversary.
Joe is survived by his brother, Floyd Serrano of Madera, CA, five children: Hope (Roel) Olivares of Elk Grove, CA, Joe Jr. (Pety) Serrano of Houston, Texas; Susan (Frank) Felice of Chico, CA; Barbara Serrano of Seattle, WA; and Jim (Tina) Serrano of Los Banos, Calif.; nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
