Manuela “Mona” Thayne (Chacon)

Manuela (Mona) Thayne (Chacon) passed away peacefully in the company of her loved ones on March 4, 2020, in Cathedral City, California. She was 95 years old. Mona was born in Santa Barbara, Chihuahua, Mexico on April 28, 1924. She was the 7th child of 10 children of Juan de Dios and Manuela Chacon.
As a little girl she loved to dance to the music of an organ grinder that filled the town square every weekend. As the years passed, her love for music and spending time with friends brought her great joy.
Mona married the love of her life, Rey Rolla Thayne, in Santa Barbara, Chihuahua on April 27, 1952. They were a couple who treasured each other. Rey and Mona were active in social life in Santa Barbara, participating in the local “Club de Leones” (Lion’s Club), and many community events. Enjoying music and festivities with their friends were mainstays of life for them there. Through the years, love songs from these days were always heard, sung or played in their home.
Mona, Rey and their family moved to Utah in 1968.
Her home was always a hospitable stopping place for many family members and friends. Visitors enjoyed her Mexican cuisine and her wonderful stories as she fondly recalled her life in Mexico.
Mona was a faithful member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic church and held a profound hope in God. In later years as her vision and hearing grew weaker, her prayers for family and loved ones grew stronger.
She enjoyed spending time with her friends and family, especially if a card game could be started – with small antes to keep things interesting. A trip to Wendover with her friends for low-stakes entertainment was often welcomed. Vacation cruises and travel to visit relatives in California, Mexico and throughout the West were treasured shared times with her husband Rey and their children.
Mona was proud to have been a founding member of the “Club de Mujeres Latinas”, a nonprofit group encouraging cultural interaction and philanthropic activities.
Before her marriage, Mona worked for the ASARCO Mine as an executive secretary. Although she was primarily a stay at home mom, Mona worked at various places and eventually spent many years working for Abbott/Sorenson Research after her children were all in high school or college.
Mona moved to El Paso Texas in 2013 after her husband Rey passed away. She lived with her daughter Norma Thayne Perez and son-in law, Edmundo Perez. This new location allowed her to be in closer contact with Norma’s family, Mona’s dear sister Elvira and other family members still living in Mexico. She loved to play games with her great-grandsons and share her chocolates with them.
As of 2018, she resided in Cathedral City, California with her son Rey R. Thayne Jr. and his spouse Stephen Burchard, where they pampered and lovingly cared for her.
She is preceded in death by her husband: Rey R. Thayne Sr.; sons, Rey (II) (infant), Joe and John (infants); as well as eight brothers and sisters.
She is survived by her sister, four children, their spouses, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren: Daughter Clara Beth (Sheldon) Tuffyas; Grandson: Eric (Nicole) Tuffyas and great grandchildren: Benjamin and Blakely; Daughter Norma (Edmundo) Perez; Granddaughter Monica Perez (Santiago Bendiksen), great-grandchildren: Margot and Matisse; Granddaughter Jessica Perez (Enrique Ponce), great-grandchildren: Maximiliano and Lucciano; Granddaughter Angelica Perez (Tomas Rodriguez), great-granddaughter: Renata; Son Rey Thayne Jr (III) (Stephen Burchard); Son Lloyd Thayne (Denise Lane Thayne), Grandchildren: Jeremiah and Elena Thayne; Sister Elvira Chacon Taylor.
She will live on in our hearts and memories.
A viewing is scheduled for Thursday, March 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Memorial Redwood Mortuary located at 6500 S. Redwood Rd., Taylorsville, UT 84123
Service Information
Viewing March 19, 2020 at 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Memorial Redwood Mortuary, 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah 84123