Estella Gallardo Amador, age 90, passed away early Sunday morning on August 31,2025. She was born on February 28, 1935 in Matamoros, México, to the late José Gallardo of Durango, México, and the late María Flores Gallardo of Saltillo, México.
Estella married Ricardo Rodriguez Amador, Sr. on February 14, 1965. They had a son, Ricardo R. Amador II, and another son by adoption, Rosendo Rene Amador. Ricardo II went on to become an attorney after graduating from Thurgood Marshall School of Law. All have preceded her in death.
Estella is also preceded in death by her sister, María Inez Lopez, and her brother, Augustín Gallardo.
She is survived by many nieces and nephews: Larry Lopez, Jesse Lopez, Ernest Lopez from Corpus Christi, Texas; Gilbert Lopez and Rose Lopez-Moore from Victoria, Texas; and Irene Amador Lopez from Baytown, Texas, plus her beloved sweet little chihuahua Pickles.
She graduated from Roy Miller High School. She worked at Bealls, Cullis Camera and Fedway. Estella retired from Corpus Christi Independent School District after working there for 26 years.
Estella’s greatest love aside from her family was music. Her 4th grade teacher, Minerva Love, discovered that Estella could sing. She sang all of her life, from José and Licha Gallardo’s Piano Studio to the choir at the Corpus Christi Cathedral. She served as Choir Director of El Coro Latino at Christ the King Catholic Church for 12 years. Her talent was incredible. She was 1st Runner-up in the 2012 Miss Coastal Bend Senior Pageant. For her talent she sang “The Impossible Dream” from the musical, Man of la Mancha. She received a standing ovation for her performance.
Special thanks go to all the kind and loving people who cared for Estella in her last days, the professional staff of Nurses on Wheels, 24/7 Personal Care and Angelbright Hospice. Their caring was a blessing to Estella and her family.
Estella was a fierce, independent and loving woman. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her and loved her. Her dearest wish was to be reunited with her heavenly family: her husband, son, mother and sister.
A public visitation will be held Friday, September 5, 2025 from 5pm to 9pm at Funeraria Del Angel, 4901 Everhart Rd. Corpus Christi, Texas, 78411 with a holy rosary at 7pm. Visitation will resume the following morning Saturday, September 6th, at 9am with a funeral service to be held at 10am. Burial will follow at the De La Garza Cemetery, HW53 + 7W, McFaddin TX, 77905 at 1pm.
