Maria Torres

Maria Estella Torres

1940 - 2025

Maria Estella Torres, 84, passed from this life peacefully Wednesday afternoon 11/19/2025 at 4:30pm at San Antonio Hospital in Upland, California. She was born 12/26/1940 in Aramberri, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. She was raised in Mexico and lived in Texas until 1957 when the family then moved to Guadalupe, California. She lived in the Guadalupe and Santa Maria area until 2002 when she then moved to live with her sister in Rancho Cucamonga, California. While in Santa Maria, she primarily worked for Columbia Records until the plant closed in 1981. She then found positions with the local Spanish language radio stations in Santa Maria and in Lompoc. She hosted morning and afternoon programs playing a mix of music and requests. She was involved in local Hispanic youth groups as well as Hispanic civic organizations in both Santa Maria and Lompoc. She loved sewing and was an accomplished seamstress. She also enjoyed many crafts which included flower arranging, cake decorating, and she loved to cook.

She was a natural caregiver whose love showed most clearly in the devotion to her parents and family. Whether through small acts like giving someone a ride or the quiet sacrifices no one else saw, she was always there, ready to help. Her devotion was steady and deeply rooted in who she was.

Maria Estella is survived by her two brothers and sister. Her brother Francisco Torres, her brother and sister-in-law Juan and Margarita Torres, both of Santa Maria and sister Maria Louisa Kawecki, of Rancho Cucamonga, California. She is also survived by her nephew and wife Eduardo & Rachel Torres; niece Evelyn Torres; nephew and wife Francisco Jr. & Jovana Torres, niece & husband Ysenia & Andy Morales, niece and husband Dalila & Victor Lainez, niece Dacia Randolph, niece and husband Norma & Jesse Naoe, nephew and wife Eric & Tristan Kawecki. In addition, she has 21 grandnieces and grandnephews, 9 great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews, all of Santa Maria.

Funeral service will be celebrated Saturday 12/6/2025 at Dudley Hoffman Mortuary with visitation from 9-10, followed by a Catholic memorial service, then burial at the Santa Maria Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary 805-922-8463.

Visit www.dudleyhoffmanmortuary.com to leave a condolence for the family.