Alice Estolas

Alice Estolas
Oct. 9, 1915 - May 13, 2012
Alice passed away peacefully at home in Benicia following a recent stroke. Born in Plymouth, England to George and Henrietta Hellyer, she was the oldest of 11 children. During difficult times, she left high school early to care for her siblings and help with family finances. Her goal was to be a nurse, but after being told that she was too short at 4'11",  she went into domestic service. She soon became employed as a housekeeper, working her way up from a "betweeny" to head "privy" maid. Showing promise in the kitchen, she was sent to the Cordon Bleu Culinary School in London where she took classes in Desserts and Pastries. During her best loved days of employment in Salcomb by the sea, she enjoyed her time off, swimming in the ocean and rowing her 10ft. dinghy, sometimes drifting too far out to sea when she would fall asleep, leading to serendipitous events, such as seeing a whale breech in front of her or meeting the famous English biologist Sir Julian Huxley who just happened to be sailing his yacht nearby. 
Born during World War I, Alice, as a young adult, witnessed the horrors of a second world war, being separated from her family, and enduring the seemingly endless bombings of London and Plymouth. It was, however, at the end of WWII that she met and married her beloved Johnny, a Filipino-American U.S. Naval officer. They were married for 51 years. 
After the war, in 1947, Alice followed her husband to San Francisco, eventually becoming an American citizen. In San Francisco she raised three children, before going to work for Hartford Insurance Company, retiring as Head File Clerk after 22 years. She and John enjoyed a wonderful long retirement together, going to the spa/gym almost daily and traveling all over the world, returning to England many times. 
In San Francisco, Alice was active in the PTA and the American Legion, Post 1, Women's Auxilary where she served over time as Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President and President. After 17 years, she moved to and lived in Pacifica for 18 years before moving to Benicia in 1993.
Besides traveling, Alice enjoyed going fishing on the family boat and camping in Tahoe with her grandchildren. She was skilled in cooking, sewing, knitting and crocheting; she enjoyed reading, doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles, watching golf on TV, but mostly she was passionate about her garden. In later years, she enjoyed Tai Chi at the Vallejo Senior Center and then the crafts group and camaraderie at the Benicia Senior Center. She was active and independent until her stroke. 
Alice loved people (especially cooing at babies), parties and other social events. She loved to laugh, especially at herself, and although acknowledging their intelligence, she liked to say that she had more common sense than all her children put together. She was called the Energizer Bunny by her daughter, for her long life and enthusiasm for activity and travel. However, Alice preferred the name "Alice in Wonderland", an affectionate moniker from her father.  
Alice was predeceased by her husband, John Estolas and her granddaughter, Kaeli Amie DeWeese. She is survived by her daughters, Vaney Stone of Vacaville, Rosemarie DeWeese Girard of Vallejo, Terrence Estolas of Benicia; seven grandchildren, (Jamie, Todd, and Heather Stone, Allison and Heleyna Estolas, Peter and Kevin DeWeese) and 10 great grandchildren.
Cremation and inurnment was provided by Skyview Memorial Lawn in Vallejo. Donations may be made to Hospice of the East Bay, 3470 Buskirk Ave., Pleasant Hill 94523 or the Benicia Senior Center, 187 East L St., Benicia 94510. A private gathering to celebrate Alice's life is planned.