Estela was born to Maria and Regulo Casio on Monday November 28, 1938 in the provincial town of Tandag Surigao of the Philippines. She was part of a family which had 7 siblings (4 boys, 3 girls). Her family moved to Manila shortly after the War and Estela ultimately graduated from the University of the East with a Bachelors of Arts in Accountancy. Estela had a passion for numbers and eventually became a certified public accountant in 1966.
She used her education to help run her family business…an optical in the middle of the city. She ran a tight ship and would often speak proudly of how she used her accounting skills to manage the business wisely. While she was happy with her achievements, she had a lingering desire for more…and eventually embarked on an international journey in the early 1970s, which would change her life and her family’s life forever.
Estela didn’t have much at the time…she had no job, no home to move into, nor any family to serve as a safety net for this endeavor. At best, she maybe had $100 and a few contacts in NYC. But she did have her newly minted accounting credential, her unrelenting work ethic and her dreams for a better life. For Estela…that was enough.
She lived at the YWCA when she first got here but she quickly made friends and they eventually rented an apartment together in the Bronx. She probably had six roommates or so in a two bedroom / one bathroom apartment. It was then when she got her first big break…an entry level accounting position for a small bank in NYC. It was also there where she first met Alejandrino Mendoza who went by the name of Alex.
Alex ALSO came from the Philippines, ALSO was a CPA and ALSO shared similar values as Estela. Estela and Alex fell in love and they married in 1972. The couple eventually had two boys, Arthur and Alejandrino JR., and purchased their first home in Jamaica, Queens for about $32k. It was in this home where they created the foundation of their new life and many of the memories that we share today.
Estela and Alex achieved their American dreams and were proud of their accomplishments. For most people, they would then rest easy and sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labor. For Estela and Alex, these dreams were incomplete while their family remained back home. And so instead, they set a new goal, which was to bring as many of their family members to the states as possible.
Estela was able to accomplish this goal by bringing her mom, her sister Josie, and her brothers Marshall, Juan and Monic. Alex had similar accomplishments. Together, they built a community of extended family and helped give everyone a better life. Estela meant a lot of things to a lot of people but will always be remembered for her love, kindness and dedication.
A viewing for Estela will be held at Stutzmann & Sons from 4pm-8pm on Sunday October 2, 2022. The funeral mass will be held at Immaculate Conception Church at 930am on Monday October 3, 2022 and burial at Maple Grove Cemetery shortly there after. The family only asks for prayers for Estela.
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