Estela Lopez

1961 - 2024

Caldwell - Estela Lopez, 63, born in Bellas Fuentes, Michoacán, Mexico, to Dolores Espinoza Hurtado and Ramon Salinas Galvan, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 25, 2024, with her family by her side.

Estela had humble beginnings, born to a family of eleven children; she was the second youngest. The house she was born in was made of adobe and dirt floors, built by her father and oldest brother. At seven years of age (1969), she was brought to the USA with her family.

Estela attended public schools in Madera, CA. Ten years later, she graduated from Madera High School as Valedictorian (1979). She was a lifelong learner and attended Fresno City College, completing her two-year general education requirements with honors. Soon after, she went on to attend the University of California Santa Cruz. In her later years, she attended Treasure Valley Community College.

In 1982, she met Francisco, and they married in 1984, and had three children together: first-born, Deisi Angelica; second-born, Lesli; and third-born, Francisco A. They were blessed with five beautiful grandchildren: Raymon Lopez, Jordan Lopez, Giselle Sanchez, Edgar Sanchez, and Alexis Sanchez.

She suffered the great loss of her daughter, Lesli Lopez (2019), due to breast cancer.

She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Francisco G. Lopez; her children: Deisi A. (Edgar) Sanchez and Francisco A. (Cristal Galindo) Lopez; her five grandchildren; her siblings and their families: Eleazar Salinas, Hilda Garnica, Bertha Garcia, Hilda Lira, Javier Salinas, Joel Salinas, and Martin Salinas.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ramon Salinas G. and Dolores Espinoza H., who were married close to 60 years; daughter, Lesli Lopez; siblings: M. Teresa Garcia, Baltazar Salinas, and Salvador Salinas; and father-in-law, Antonio Lopez Velasquez.

A rosary will be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at 7:00 pm at Flahiff Funeral Chapel, 624 Cleveland Blvd. in Caldwell. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 10:00 am at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 1122 W. Linden Street in Caldwell, with graveside services to follow at Canyon Hill Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Flahiff Funeral Chapel, Caldwell. (208) 459-0833