Tributes

Our beautiful sunflower went to be with the Lord on September 25, 2023, at the age of 54. She passed away at home with her dog, Comanche, by her side. Estella L. Valdez was born in San Antonio, Texas on November 25, 1968, to Edward and Eloiza Valdez. She grew up in the southside attending Carroll Bell Elementary School, Terrell Wells Middle School and graduated from McCollum High School in 1987. She attended college at Southwest Texas State (SWT) where she graduated in 1992. She was also known as Mrs. Mosqueda to her students and co-workers at Vestal Elementary School where she taught for 29 years until she retired in 2021. Not only was she a teacher in the classroom, but she was a teacher to all about saving Mother Earth. She was a big advocate for always recycling and composting when you can. Also, she worked as a Mary Kay consultant to help empower her fellow sisters about feeling good and beautiful in their own skin. Her love for animals was known by all as she had many pet dogs, a cat, and a rabbit. Estella will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Fransico P. and Elena G. Martinez of Poteet, Texas, Manuel P. and Sofia Cantu Leal of Pleasanton, Texas, and Refugio Valdez. Survivors include her parents Edward D. and Eloiza M. Valdez, sister Emma Valdez Martinez (Joe) and brother Edward Valdez (Victoria). Although she never had any children of her own, she is survived by many nieces, nephews and countless others who claimed her as a parent or aunt. Also, she leaves behind extended family in Michigan, Florida, Ecuador, and San Angelo, Texas including her Godparents Richard and Antonia (Toni) Gonzales. Visitation will begin on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. with a rosary to begin at 6:30 p.m. at Mission Park Funeral Chapels South. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church with a procession from the funeral home. Interment will be held at a later date due to her request for cremation. A huge thank you to Texas Oncology Group on Research Drive, including her Oncologist Dr. Antonio Santillan-Gomez for all their support and help through her journey. Estella was one of a kind and her legacy was to help aid uterine sarcoma research by getting genetic testing done on this rare cancer. Estella asked that in place of sending flowers please donate to cancer research for Uterine Sarcoma or to the San Antonio Humane Society. For personal acknowledgement, you may sign the online guestbook at www.missionparks.com in the obituary section.

Tributes

Estella Louise Valdez

November 25, 1968 - September 25, 2023