Rafael Rojas Pacheco

Rafael Rojas Pacheco, age 87, of Sunnyside, WA passed away on Thursday, February 7, 2019 in Sunnyside. Rafael was born May 1, 1931 in Jicalan, Michoacán, Mexico, the son of Daniel and Maria de Jesus (Rojas) Pacheco. Rafael married Guadalupe Guillen Flores on December 31, 1953.  Rafael was a tunnel engineer who built four different capital projects for Mexico’s infrastructure in the 1950s before moving to the United States. Rafael worked as a farm laborer for Carpenter Farms and the Utah and Idaho Sugar for 43 years after working as a migrant farm laborer on the United States west coast Circuit from 1963-1977. Rafael enjoyed dancing, whistling, joking around, reading his Bible, and singing. He also loved spending time with his grandkids.  He enjoyed climbing trees his entire life. Sometimes at family gatherings, if the family could not find him, he would be at the top of a tree. Rafael was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Sunnyside, WA.

Rafael is survived by his loving wife Guadalupe Pacheco of Sunnyside, WA, 8 children; Augustine Pacheco of Palmdale, CA, Eva Madrigal (Tomas) of Prescott, WA, Margarita Cornwell (Jim) of Grandview, WA, Daniel Pacheco (Carol), Martin Pacheco (Sonia), Maria Cornwell, Jose Pacheco (Sonia) and Jesus Pacheco, all of Sunnyside, WA. He is also survived by three sisters, Maria, Lupe, and Socorro, and his brother Jesus, 35 grandchildren, 54 great grandchildren, and 8 great great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Daniel and Maria, 2 sisters Josefina and Juanita, brother Cirilo, daughter Maria Luisa and granddaughter Malinda Cardenas.

Viewing and visitation will be held Sunday, February 10, 2019 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm with recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6:00 pm at the Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Sunnyside, WA. Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, February 11, 2019 at 10:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sunnyside, WA with burial to follow at Lower Valley Memorial Gardens in Sunnyside, WA. Those wishing to sign Rafael’s online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com Smith Funeral Homes in care of arrangements.

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