Resident dies in his newly rebuilt home
By Kyle Jorrey kjorrey@theacorn.com

Chris Palomarez

Chris Palomarez, whose home was rebuilt from ashes thanks to the charity of others, died Tuesday, Feb. 27, of natural causes.

According to family members, Palomarez, 80, died peacefully in his sleep in the room where he spent the past 40 years- a blessing made possible by the generosity of friends and neighbors. They pulled together last year to see Palomarez's home on Apricot Road rebuilt less than six months after it was destroyed in a fire caused by an errant bottle rocket on Independence Day.

"I feel every single person who had anything to do with my parents' home really made his wish come true," said Rachel Massey, one of Palomarez's nine surviving children. "To me, that is the most wonderful and precious thing that community did for us- allowing him to go in his own house."

Though Palomarez only got to spend another two months in his beloved residence after finally moving back in last December, Massey said they were very pleasant ones.

"I think he was so happy to be back in his home. I think that's why he finally decided it was his time to go," Massey said. "He was just tired. He was ready to go be with my mom."

Palomarez's son, Cheeky, said the events of the past year, in some ways, changed his father's entire outlook on life.

"He was a stubborn man prior to the house being burned down. After that, my father changed quite a bit," Cheeky said. "The outpouring of love from people really changed him. To this very day, even in his passing, the only thing he said he didn't get to repay were all the individuals who helped him in regards to getting back into his house. He was very, very grateful for that."

Cheeky also recalled his father's delight to be back home.

"He was so happy to be back in that house, anybody who would come around he'd take them in and show them all of the new fixtures," he recalled.

Services for Palomarez, who was born near Fillmore on July 10, 1926, were held Saturday at the Reardon Simi Valley Funeral Home. More than 100 friends and loved ones attended, Massey said.

Palomarez was buried in Simi Valley next to his wife, Evelyn, who died 10 years ago. In addition to his nine children, 25 grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren survive him.