Ester Aldaco Ortiz

Dripping Springs - Ester Aldaco Ortiz was born on April 18, 1936, in Buda, Texas. She was the sixth child born to Baltazar and Antonia Aldaco.

Ester was a beautiful, devoted wife, a loving, tireless mother, grandmother, and sister. In 1997, she retired from Luby's Cafeterias in Houston, Texas and was proud of her work as a salad room manager. In her second career she became a creative Southwest jewelry designer and artisan. Her children opened a family business in Wimberley, Texas in 2005, to display and sell her artistic works. The physical location closed in 2010, but the family continues to market her exclusive creations via the Pow Wow circuit. She was an imaginative genius at anything she created and could duplicate anything from recipes, clothes, jewelry, and many creative projects.

She was a charismatic and loving individual that had many "surrogate" children, grandchildren, and friends who she welcomed as part of her family. To them she was affectionately known as "Mama" and "Grandma." There was not a person who was a stranger to her. Her doctors, nurses, home health nurses, and medical providers were all embraced as a part of her extended family. Before her illness and age crept up on her, she loved to cook for holiday gatherings, and her home and kitchen would fill up with countless relatives and friends. Her door and her table were always open, as was her heart.

In 1954, she married Guadalupe Ortiz in Hart, Texas. Within those years they were blessed with four children, Carlos Ortiz (Sylvia) of Kyle, Texas; Manuela Ortiz of Dripping Springs, Texas; David Ortiz of Dripping Springs, Texas, and Corina Ortiz (Aida Tello) of Pearland, Texas. She was additionally blessed with 5 grandchildren Amanda Ortiz of Austin, Texas; Crystal Segovia (Alex) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Christopher Ortiz of Plainview, Texas; Stephanie Suarez (Gabe) of Katy, Texas and David Ortiz, Jr. (Niveen Hayat) of Houston, Texas; 5 great-grandchildren and countless nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Baltazar and Antonia; her brothers, Julian and Phillip Aldaco; her sisters Petra Garnica, Juanita Martinez, Pauline Ybarra, and her beloved dog-child, Pibby. She is survived by her sister, Susie Aldaco Solis of Rosenberg, Texas.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to family, friends, Dr. Robert Norris, ARC of Austin, AccentCare Home Healthcare and Hospice nurses and therapists, especially Morgan and Allison, and her beloved phlebotomist, Tiffany, with ARC of Austin for their endless kindness and support throughout the time of her medical care.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Southwest Indian Foundation at SouthwestIndian.com or P.O. Box 86, Gallup, NM 87305. Visitation will be observed at Harrell Funeral Home, 100 Heritage Dr. & Highway 290W, Austin, Texas 78737, on Thursday December 11, 2025, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.