Erenia "Connie" Navarro's Obituary
Erenia “Connie” (Ramirez) Navarro left this Earth in the early hours of December 29, 2022, for her new home in Heaven, where she was greeted by her beloved daughter, Francisca Navarro, and infant son Luis Angel Navarro.
Connie was born, in Round Rock, Texas, the eleventh of twelve children. Her parents, Esteban and Concepcion Ramirez, moved the family to Muskegon during World War II. She worked as a migrant worker before settling in a Muskegon, Michigan project called “La Colonia” where her father found a factory job making engines for General Motors which is now called Textron Corporation.
Connie was the 11th child and the first to graduate from Muskegon Senior High School in 1957. This was a great achievement for her because she had been stricken with tuberculosis and was hospitalized at the Tuberculosis Sanitorium for one year until her return home. Her parents provided a tutor at home to assist with her studies. Later, she attended Muskegon Community College for a short period of time, but left to help her parents with their Mexican restaurant, La Villita.
In 1964, Connie married the love of her life, Angel Luis Navarro whom she met while picking in the fields as migrant workers. The newlyweds moved to Florida where they experienced all of the racial prejudice of the south. Their lives were constantly under attack both by physical and social prejudice. They moved back to the Muskegon area in 1969 when the Navarros bought a family business that specialized in providing Mexican food and ethnic products, Navarro’s Mexican Takeout, and introduced the community to authentic Mexican food — her heritage. Today the more than 40-year-old business remains strong rooted in Muskegon Heights, Michigan where her mother’s recipes continue nourishing community.
Connie was a tireless advocate for the Latino community, a trailblazer who believed that all voices needed to be heard and everyone’s experience was valued. It was her mission; no, her legacy to connect people from all of Muskegon’s communities and to introduce us as neighbors.
She did so on the job, first working for the Department of Social Services in Muskegon, helping Mexican-Americans with home care, budget management and with bilingual assistance at area hospitals and educational institutions. Later, she worked for Vista as a liaison for the Latino community at the Family Coordinating Council. Again, she provided translations for people seeking health care and served as a “bridge” between the Latino and Anglo communities. Throughout her career, which included time at Community Foundation for Muskegon County and Mission for Area People, she was one of the first bilingual employees.
Her dedication to diversity and inclusion extended to community work, volunteerism sitting on numerous boards and even the business world. She and her husband, Angel Luis Navarro, co-founded their non-profit, Latinos Working for the Future in 1991 and were active in the Latin America Club promoting the Latino culture and advancing higher education for students.
Because of her heritage — with those strong, resilient roots — Connie knew she had to preserve and tell the stories of the Latino people who call Muskegon home, before they were forgotten. She co-authored a book, “A New Home in Michigan: The Mexican-American Experience in Muskegon,” about Ryerson Heights, a federal housing project where many Latino families lived during World War II and immediately after. Connie called the project “La Colonia,” which translates to colony or neighborhood.
She was equally as dedicated to preserving many Latino customs in church at Our Lady of Grace, often organizing special masses and celebrations such as the Virgen de Guadalupe mass and volunteering in the Ladies Guild.
Connie was honored for her service. She received the Women of Accomplishment Award from Muskegon Community College, the Black Women’s Political Caucus Award, the Maria Zavala Award from Michigan State University’s Dia de la Mujer and the Muskegon Woman’s Club Woman of Accomplishment Award and is a Muskegon Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow. Most recently, she received the Gordon Olson Award from the Kutsche Office of Local History at Grand Valley State University for “using history to give voice to a diverse community.”
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Angel Luis; daughter Angelita Valdez; son-in-laws, Miguel Angel Valdez and Clemente Paniagua; granddaughter, Marisela Sierra and her husband, Felix Sierra; grandson Abraham Aguilar; and great-grandchildren, Vivianna and Matias Sierra.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Esteban and Concepcion Ramirez, her children, Francisca Navarro and Luis Angel Navarro, and all eleven of her Ramirez siblings: Martin Ramirez, Ismael Ramirez, Valentin Ramirez, Santana Ramirez, Felipa Perez, Petra Gonzalez, Tomasa Ybarra, Eliza Casler, Ramona Medrano, and Bruno Ramirez.
Connie always said “send me flowers while I’m living because I can’t see them when I’m gone.” In lieu of flowers, the Navarro family kindly ask for you to honor her legacy of inspiring young Latino students and entrepreneurs by donating to the Angel Luis and Connie Navarro Legacia Fund held at the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. http.//muskegonfoundation.org/give/give-now/?fundname=Angel%20Luis%20and%20Connie%20Navarro%20Legacia%20Fund
Visitation will be held from 4:00pm-7:00p.m. Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 Harvey St, Norton Shores, MI 49444 with a Catholic Rosary to be prayed at 4:30pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Connie’s beloved, Our Lady of Grace Church (495 S. Getty St) with Rev. Fr. Kyle Kilpatrick presiding. Burial will immediately follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery and is open to all of those who were blessed to love her. Sign the online obituary at www.sytsemafh.com
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