Joel Valdez

Obituary photo

Joel Austin Valdez
28 Apr 1962 - 17 Apr 1997

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Obituary

VALDEZ, JOEL A.

Died April 17, 1997 in Sacramento surrounded by his family after a 12 year battle with AIDS. He is the beloved son of Mary J. Valdez and the late Jesse A. Valdez; the brother of Jesse A, Valdez, Jr. of Anaheim; Jerry, Jarvis, Julia, and Janice Valdez, all of Sacramento; James Valdez of Anaheim; Angel Staudenraus of Everett, WA; and June Salter, Jeannie Northam and Joan Foust of Sacramento; also 20 nieces and nephews, 1 great-niece and 1 great-nephew. He leaves behind numerous friends and will be greatly be missed at his favorite dance spot 'Sidekicks' where a special party was held in October of 1996. A volunteer at the AIDS Foundation, he spoke publicly at many high schools and colleges and at the AIDS conference at St. Rose Church, raised thousands of dollars at the AIDS Bowl-A-Thon in 1986, held the flag representing Sacramento at the opening of the Gay Rights Parade in Washington of 1987 and ran an AIDS support group at the Lambda Center. Friends are invited to attend visitation on Friday, April 18 from 4 to 8 PM and services, Saturday, April 19 at 10 AM at Sunset Lawn Chapel of Chimes, 4701 Marysville Blvd., Sacramento. Interment at Sunset Lawn Memorial Park. Donations may be made to the AIDS Research Foundation, The family wishes a special thanks to the Mercy Hospice staff for their loving care of Joel.^[1]