Estela Gonzalez Saldivar, 86, of Freeport, Texas, passed away peacefully with her daughter by her side in Kingsland, Texas, on December 1, 2011. Her final days were spent with her family and the "Windchime family" she had touched in some small way. She was born to Candelario Gonzalez and Leonor Arredondo on December 30, 1924, in Los Saenz, Texas.

Estela graduated from Rio Grande High School in Rio Grande City, Texas, she attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College in San Marcos, Texas, and in 1953 graduated with a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education from Texas College of Art and Industries in Kingsville, Texas. While attending college she met Jesus G. Saldivar of Kingsville and married on September 30, 1950, in Los Saenz. They had two children, son, Roel and daughter, Sandra.

Estela was a teacher for thirty-six years with twenty-four teaching first grade in "Room 2" at O.A. Fleming Elementary School in Freeport. Estela received a Distinguished Teacher award in for the school years of 1965-1966 from Brazosport ISD. She retired from teaching in 1984. In 1985, Estela opened a successful dress boutique,"Fashion Flare" in Freeport. She was the recipient of the 1994 Woman of the Year award from the Endeavor Charter Chapter of the American Business Women's Association. She was cited for her outstanding contributions to the organization. She operated that business until her final retirement in 2005. Estela is a charter member of the Catholic Daughter's of the America's, Our Lady of the Brazos; serving numerous terms as Past Regent. She was a lifelong and active member of St. Mary: Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Freeport.

Estela is survived by a daughter, Sandra (Keith) Underwood of Tow, Texas; grandchildren, Samantha (Steve) Stacey of Houston, Texas, Roel (Julie) Saldivar of Alvin, Texas, Rachell Underwood of Houston, Jessie Douglas Saldivar of Angleton, Texas; great-grandchildren, Hunter and Luke Stacey of Houston; sisters, Maxie Cantu of Falfurrias, Texas, Leonor (Heriberto) Trevino of Brownsville, Texas, Anita Cantu of Falfurrias; brothers, Encarnacion (Lourdes) Gonzalez of Los Saenz, Candelario (Mary) Gonzalez, Jr. of Weslaco, Texas; sister-in-law, Petra Gonzalez of Los Saenz.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, and brother Servando Gonzalez.

The family would like to humbly thank the wonderful staff of The Windchime in Kingsland and Texas Home Health Hospice of Marble Falls, Texas, who cared, loved and prayed for Estela.

Visitations will be held at Putnam Funeral Home in Kingsland on Sunday, December 4, 2011, from Noon to 4 pm.

Estela will be returned home to Freeport to be laid to rest next to her husband of thirty-one years and loving son.

Arrangements in Freeport are under the direction of Freeport Lakewood Funeral Home.

The family requests visitation to be observed Monday, December 5, 2011, at Lakewood Funeral Chapel in Lake Jackson, Texas, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm with the rosary to prayed at 6:00 pm. The Liturgy will be said by Fr. Edmond Eduarte at St. Mary: Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Freeport, on Tuesday, December 6, 2011, at 11:00 am with burial following at Restwood Memorial Park in Lake Jackson.

Sign Guestbook>>

1 Condolence(s)