Max Estrella Patiño

February 17, 1937 – July 7, 2024

Maximiano Estrella Patiño was a humble, simple and loving man.

Maximiano Estrella Patiño was born in Tenamaxtlán, Jalisco, Mexico, on the 17th of February 1937, to Francisca Castillo Estrella of Tenamaxtlán, Jalisco and Manuel Alcaraz Patiño of Atengo, Jalisco. Maximiano was affectionately known throughout his life by his nickname of “Chimo”, and after becoming a United States citizen, he changed his first name by simply shortening it to “Max.” He was the 6th oldest (or 2nd youngest) of seven children. His father, Manuel, was an entrepreneur & self-employed businessman and his mother, Francisca, was a housewife, raising all their children.

Max finished the sixth grade and at the age of 14, began to work. At 14, he left home to Mexico City to work at a gas station for a short time. He then returned and continued working, delivering Tecate beer for a distributor. He later worked as an electrician, setting up and installing electricity in residential homes in Escuinapa, Sinaloa. He then returned to Mexico City where he attended a trade school to learn how to operate earth-moving machinery.

From an early age and in their small town of Ruiz, Nayarit, his future wife, Lucila Teresa Borrego Tirado, was a childhood acquaintance. Max later began to work for her father, Ignacio, as a delivery driver. As friends, Max and Lucila went dancing on average, twice a week. Their dates later developed into a romantic attraction. Max attributes having learned to become a better dancer to her. At their age of 20, Max asked Lucila to become his girlfriend and she happily accepted. He then asked for Ignacio’s approval, to which he approved.

In 1960, Max immigrated to California, with the vision of joining most of his family that was already there, and to eventually begin a new life with his future wife, Lucila. Lucila did not send him away without giving him a laminated photograph of herself to remind him of her and keep him company. Max soon obtained a job at Marquez Foods, Inc., a frozen Mexican-food production company in Compton, CA. He also purchased their first home in Compton, CA. In 1962, Max returned to Mexico, where he then proposed marriage to Lucila, and she again happily accepted. Max returned to his job in California until he returned to Mexico two years later, in January 1964, and married Lucila. That same month, they both left for California. However, Lucila was denied a visa to enter and had to wait in Mexicali without Max until May of that same year, when she was approved for immigration.

From the beginning, Max told Lucila that he did not want her to have a job, but rather stay at home and raise their children, and she agreed. Over the course of the next 14 years, Lucila gave birth to Ignacio Manuel, Eduardo, Miguel Angel, and Antonio. He and Lucila raised their boys with love and devotion.

In 1975, Max moved his family from the City of Compton to South Gate, to raise his boys in what he believed would be a safer environment for them, and where they all attended the local public schools. In a continued effort to keep his boys safe, he spent the money and sent each of them to Catholic high school as they became of age.

Max held his job with Marquez Foods (later Butcher Boys Inc.) for over 25 years. He began there as a sanitation maintenance worker. Because he was bright, a quick learner and had a strong work ethic, he learned how the various machinery worked, how production was run and he learned how to deal with people in a workplace. He was known to step-in and fix problems or find solutions when it wasn’t even his job to address. This caused him attention from those that were responsible for fixing the problems and more importantly, from those in charge. Ultimately, Max rose in the company of about 200 personnel, to become the Production Manager and #2 in charge at the company. In his final years, the company changed ownership and became Butcher Boys, Inc. He was offered the position of Plant Manager, or #1 in charge at least one time, but declined the offer because he felt his English, at that time, wasn’t sufficient. In 1985, he left Butcher Boys and became a co-business owner and opened Estrella Market in the City of Paramount. The market consisted of the sale of groceries, fresh-cut meats, a delicatessen, beer, wine and distilled spirits. Several years later, the market was sold, and Max then retired from full-time employment. He kept busy for a few more years with a part-time job, transporting cars for a large auto dealership until he retired completely.

In October 2014, his wife Lucila, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and her health quickly declined. Within a year, she became bedridden and had to reside in medical facilities that specialized in life support assistance. For the next ten years, Max spent an average of six days a week visiting the love of his life, at whatever facility she was at. As a result of his consistent visitations and attention for her, Lucila received the best health care possible during that entire time. On November 23, 2024, Lucila passed away from her illness and left Max devastated. Nothing holds truer than the words, “In sickness and in health, until death do us part.”

In June 2024, after only seven months of his wife’s passing, Max became ill himself and requested a visit to the hospital. After four days, he was discharged and three days later returned to the hospital for another three days stay and discharged home, once again. A week later, on Sunday, July 7th, 2024, Max passed away at home, at the age of 87, surrounded by his family.

His fourth great grandchild, Arlo Lucila, was born on July 6th, 2024. On this day, he asked his son Eduardo if she had been born yet and he told him she had. Max asked to see a photo of her and upon seeing it, he said that she looked a lot like his other grandchildren when they were born. Max passed away almost 24 hours later. It was evident that he waited for her safe arrival, before he made his own departure home.

Max was a good friend to all that befriended him. He was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, uncle, cousin, and ‘n-law. Some of his nieces and nephews even regarded him as an “uncle dad.” He also admired Lucila’s family and treated them as his very own.

Max made it a point to visit his parents and siblings weekly throughout their lives. Through these actions, he taught his sons the importance and value of family. Max loved to fish, travel, and gamble in Las Vegas, and in his later years, at the various local casinos. At home he enjoyed watching both American and Mexican western movies, any movie starring Clint Eastwood, and playing card games with his family. He was a humble and simple man who loved and enjoyed all his family. He loved and was very proud of each of his sons.

Max will be missed by everyone he touched throughout his life, but he will be most missed by his four sons, who will always regard him as their protector, mentor, teacher, hero, and truly the greatest father a son could ever ask for. He was the man; he was their main man.

May you Forever Rest in Eternal Peace, in the Kingdom of God

We Love You Dad – Pops – Apá - Grandpa!

Max is survived by his four sons, Ignacio Manuel, Eduardo, Miguel Angel & Antonio, his daughter-in-law’s Luz & Estela, his grandchildren, Britny+, Brenda Elizabeth, Eduardo, Jessica Nathalie, Adriana Nicole, Michael Jacob & Matthew Joshua, and his great grandchildren Matix Diesel, Kayden Ryder, Tatum Nicole, & Arlo Lucila.

A funeral for Max will be held Friday, August 9, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Miller-Jones Menifee Memorial Park and Mortuary, 26770 Murrieta Rd., Menifee, CA 92585, followed by a graveside from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM.