Si Paul Changala Obituary (1934 - 2023)

Si Paul Changala, age 88, of Porterville, CA passed peacefully in his sleep on March 4th, 2023. His family will miss him dearly, but will cherish the love of life he shared with them and all others he came to know. Si was born on May 4, 1934 to his Basque immigrant parents Marie Louise and Pedro Changala in El Toro, CA. He was their 12th child, the 8th boy, and he was the last surviving sibling of his family. Si grew up in a farming family who leased land in southern Orange County on the Moulton Ranch. Si attended Mission School at San Juan Capistrano from which he would recite the teachings of the nuns to his final days. After graduating from Tustin High School in 1952, he received an AA degree from Orange Coast College and did a two-year stint in the army, mostly serving on the west coast. He returned to El Toro and started working with his brother Steve on various home construction jobs. Soon the brothers started their own farming ventures by dry farming grain in the Orange County foothills and irrigated crops on the Irvine Ranch. It was at this time that Si would join his older siblings and friends at Basque social gatherings and would meet the love of his life Mary Louise "Tina" Nogues. Si and Tina married in January of 1959 and quickly started their family. Si farmed on the Irvine Ranch for 20 yrs to great success. He was an innovative and pioneering farmer having been the first producer of seedless watermelons on the west coast. In 1980, after battling through a heart bypass surgery, Si and Tina purchased 1,400 acres in southern Tulare County consisting of mostly dry farm land and 40 acres of oranges. Again, Si's farming techniques were very successful and a minor revelation to some of his new neighbors who were soon stopping by the ranch to inquire as to his methods. Si retired in his mid-70's to enjoy more time traveling with Tina. Si and Tina cherished their time with family at the campgrounds of Pismo. In 1995 they bought a beach home that the family continues to enjoy to this day. Si's heart was broken when he lost Tina to Alzheimer's in 2018 which was preceded by the passing of his youngest daughter Tina Marie in 2017. Si was ready for his final journey, bolstered by his faith in the Lord and the thought of reuniting with the two women that he most dearly loved. Si is survived by sons Peter (Jackie), Alan (Elizabeth), daughter Renee (David) and son-in-law Paul (Tina Marie). He has 12 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren who brought him endless joy. Si's life will be celebrated with a viewing 4pm to 6pm and Rosary recitation 6pm on March 16th at Porterville Funeral and Cremation Center followed by a Funeral Mass at 11am on March 17th at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Interment will follow at St. Anne's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to the Alzheimer' Association in Si and Tina's name.