Estella Mendoza Chavez
October 30, 1939 – August 27, 2026
Estella Chavez, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, passed away
peacefully on August 27, 2026, at the age of 86. Nothing was more important to
her than her family. They were her greatest pride, her deepest joy, and the true
center of her world.
She was born on October 30, 1939, and grew up on a farm in Garfield, New
Mexico. She attended Hatch Valley High School, where she was a majorette,
prom queen, and treasurer of her senior class. She was the first in her family to
graduate from high school. After graduation, she worked as a secretary at White
Sands Missile Range before marrying the love of her life, Toby, and moving to
Whittier, California. She lived in Whittier for more than 50 years, where she
raised their three children as a homemaker.
Later, Estella began what would become a 30-year career with Finley Holiday
Film Company. Her coworkers quickly became much more than colleagues, they
became family. She wore many hats throughout her career. She ran the
“Vitacolor” machine that printed color slides, worked on the color slide mounter,
ran the video duplicating department, and eventually became a production
manager. While she took great pride in her work, it was the people she worked
alongside who made those years so special to her. Every afternoon, she looked
forward to taking breaks with her coworkers, sharing stories, laughter, and the
everyday moments of life. One of her favorite traditions was the annual Finley
Holiday Christmas party, when employees brought their families, and the
celebration felt less like a company gathering and more like Christmas Day with
family. Estella felt truly blessed to have been part of such a wonderful “family.”
Estella loved shopping and cooking, and everyone who knew her knew that her
homemade tortillas were the best. But most of all, she loved spending time with
her family, especially her grandchildren. Her love for family and her legacy of
strength will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough to know her.
Her proudest titles were wife, Mom, and Grandma. She loved deeply, gave
generously, and found her greatest happiness in the people she loved. She
cherished family gatherings, celebrated every milestone, and showed up
consistently and wholeheartedly for the people she loved. Her steady presence,
quiet strength, and unwavering support shaped generations.
Estella and Toby shared 64 years of marriage, building a life filled with love,
family, and countless memories. Their bond was strong and enduring, and even
after his passing, Estella missed him deeply. Her family takes comfort in
knowing that they are together again.
She is survived by her three children and their spouses, James (Gina), Christine
(Mark), and Debbie (Mario); her ten grandchildren, Tyler, Dylan, Sarah, Sean
(Jessica), Thomas (Liz), Robby, Ryan, Sophia, Kaylee, and Derek; her siblings,
Rosie (Albert), Oscar (Stella), Hector, Manuel (Yolanda), and Adolfo; as well as
many nieces, nephews, and extended Chavez family members.
She was preceded in death by her loving and devoted husband of 64 years,
Toby; her parents, Jose and Clara; her parents-in-law, Raul and Carolina; her
sisters, Mary and Tila; her brothers, Joe and Mike; her sisters-in-law, Marcella,
Elisa, Stella and Anita; and her brothers-in-law, Chuy and Justo.
Services
There will be a visitation on September 21 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter and St. Paul
Catholic Church. Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m.
A memorial service will be held on September 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
at Riverside National Cemetery.
To honor Estella, the family welcomes donations in her memory. Gifts may be
made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org, the American Cancer Society at
donate.cancer.org, or the National Ataxia Foundation at ataxia.org/donate.
