Virginia Cecilia "Cece" Clary

Virginia Cecilia “Cece” Clary (Chavez), 77, of Wichita, Kansas, entered eternal rest on February 14, 2026, embraced by the love of her family and the promise of her faith.

Born in Capulin, Colorado to Rodolfo Chavez and Flossie Chavez (Mondragon), Cece’s life was a testament to devotion — to God, to her family, to love without condition — and she embraced it wholeheartedly.

Cece was the devoted wife of Dennis A. Clary, faithfully supporting him throughout his 21-year career in the United States Air Force. As a military spouse, she created home wherever life took them — providing steadiness through change and warmth through every season. Her quiet strength shaped the life and stability of her family.

She was a loving and deeply proud mother to Dennis I. Clary and to Shannon Clary. Nothing brought her greater joy than being “Grandma” to Daxton and Taya Clary. Her smile shone brightest in their presence.

To know Cece was to experience love — absolute love. It radiated through her kindness, her gentleness, her grace, and the unmistakable warmth of her smile. She had the rare gift of making people feel fully seen and fully accepted.

A devout Catholic, her faith was the center of her life and the source of her hope. She was a longtime parishioner of St. Benedict Catholic Church in Falcon, Colorado, and remained steadfast in her devotion throughout her life. She prayed the Rosary daily and found deep comfort in Psalm 23, trusting always that the Lord was her shepherd.

One of her most cherished traditions was celebrating the baptismal anniversaries of her immediate family members each year — honoring the sacred beginning of their lives in Christ with a meal lovingly prepared at their request. Whether it was her cherished meatloaf or her homemade lasagna, the message was clear: you are loved, you are chosen, you are blessed. That tradition continues, a living reflection of her faith-filled motherhood.

Cece expressed love most beautifully through her hands. A gifted seamstress and craftswoman, she mended clothes without hesitation and created quilts, plush toys, and seasonal decorations that filled her home year-round. Her creations were stitched with care and intention — tangible reminders of her devotion.

Her kitchen was another place where love flourished. Some of her favorites included pozole, leche quemada, and atole — dishes that nourished both body and soul and connected generations through tradition. And though her patience for husking had waned, she enjoyed sending family on quests to find the perfect tamale at local mercados.

Diagnosed with polio at age three and later living with post-polio syndrome, Cece carried a physical disability that shaped her resilience but never defined her spirit. It deepened her compassion, strengthened her resolve, and informed her conviction that differences are not deficits but gifts. Through her life, she taught her children responsibility, dignity, and the sacred importance of including and honoring others. She did not preach these lessons — she embodied them.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rodolfo Chavez and Flossie Chavez (Mondragon), and her brothers, Albert Chavez, Richard Chavez, Conrado Chavez, and Rodolfo Chavez.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Dennis A. Clary; her children, Dennis I. Clary (Tina Khan), and Shannon Clary; her cherished grandchildren, Daxton and Taya Clary; and her siblings, Priscilla Gallegos, Epifanio Chavez, Amada Peterson, and Felipe Chavez (Loretta).

The Holy Rosary will be prayed at 10:00 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. both on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Wichita, Kansas. Services will be live streamed and available to watch by clicking the “Watch Funeral Service” button below.

A burial service will be held at Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado the week of March 16, 2026. Specific date and time to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Gaudalupe Clinic, 940 South St. Francis, Wichita, Kansas 67211, a reflection of Cece’s compassion and lifelong faith.

May the Lord who was her Shepherd all her days now lead her beside still waters and receive her into the fullness of His eternal peace.

Services in care of Downing & Lahey West Mortuary.