Theresa Chimeno Chirafis was born in Beaumont, Texas to Joe and Mary Chimeno. She attended Beaumont public schools and was a graduate of South Park High School.
On June 17, 1940 Theresa married the love of her life, Louis Edward Chirafis. They opened Louis’ Food Store, a small family grocery business in Beaumont, where they worked side by side for 25 years. Theresa and Louis were blessed with two sons and three daughters. A devoted and loving wife and mother, Theresa spent many hours working with her husband in the grocery store, yet was always available to support and encourage her children.
Theresa was a very giving person and she loved to shop. These two traits proved to be a blessing for her relatives and friends because she always enjoyed buying treats and giving them to her family and others. Always laughing, Theresa had a keen wit. She was funny and was able to see and enjoy the humor in life, a quality passed on to her children. It was a family joke that Theresa was a 7-month baby who had been going ever since, for she was always in a hurry. She spent many hours sweeping and picking up leaves on her driveway and also made time to gamble now and then.
Theresa Chirafis died on Thursday, January 15, 2004. She was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Louis Chirafis, her son, Louis Chirafis, Jr. and her brother, Sam J. Chimeno.
Theresa is survived by her son, Donnie Chirafis and his wife, Carol Ann; her daughters, Carolyn Jordan and husband, Bill, Mary Daleo and husband, Bernard and Judy Hargrave and her husband Minus, all of Beaumont; grandchildren, Kimberly Kably and her husband Azmi of Houston, Theresa Williams and her husband Al of Lumberton, Kevin Chirafis of Waco, and Bernie Daleo and his wife Stephanie, Joey Daleo and his wife Kari, Kathleen Daleo, Cody Hargrave, Courtney Hargrave and Colby Hargrave, all of Beaumont; ten great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 19, at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont with Reverend Joseph Daleo officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. A gathering of family and friends will begin at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, January 18, at the mortuary followed by a Rosary to celebrate Theresa’s life at 7:00 p.m. Serving as pallbearers are Theresa’s grandsons, Bernie Daleo, Joey Daleo, Kevin Chirafis, Cody Hargrave and Colby Hargrave.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Best Years Center, 780 South 4th Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701 or St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church Building Fund, 6825 Gladys, Beaumont, Texas 77706.
The family of Theresa Chirafis would like to thank Dr. Neil Burrell, the Best Years Center staff, Lela Ceaser, Rhonda Kelly and the staff on the fifth floor at St. Elizabeth Hospital for their kindness and wonderful care during Theresa’s illness.
Theresa lived a full life and blessed her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with unconditional love. She will always be missed and loved by her family and friends, who are at peace because of the person Theresa was. She brought love and pleasure to everyone around her.
