Estella Moreno Peña

Precious Mom, oh how we love you and will forever miss your beauty. Our matriarch, Estella M. Peña, of five living generations, soul and spirit of the Laborin-Moreno lineage, God has called upon you to be with Him and the rest of your family who preceded you and who have long-awaited the arrival of your precious soul on this, your last earthly day with us. Born in Glendale, AZ, on May 13, 1931, to Virginia and Jose, our beautiful mother "Stella", having peacefully passed on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, held on to life until the four of us were all in her presence to commend her spirit into God's Almighty embrace. By His grace, she waited for us all to be with her before leaving her earthly bonds. By the design of our Almighty God, sending her forth now to fulfill her legacy, she leaves us, Rudy (and wife, Zina), Bobby (and wife, Regina), Christine (and husband, Ronald), and Ernestine, 9 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Throughout the years being in her presence and expressing each our own "I love you, Mom", she never let an opportunity pass to respond with "I love you more". To our own children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, with her admiration in her eyes, she would tell them "I could just stare at you all day". For all of us, she was self-sacrificing, self-denying, considerate, noble, and compassionately forgiving. As one cousin described her, "she was an extraordinary and Grand Lady". That was her nature, her character. It is what defined her selfless essence. Though we will miss her deep sense of devoting her life to us, she can now rest in peace knowing that she instilled in each of us those same inherent qualities of love. To that, Mom, we are forever grateful to you. Raised in Tolleson, AZ, she attended Tolleson High School. Gifted with an athletic and competitive spirit, for 3 years she played girl's fast-pitch softball with the Tolleson Rockets. After World War II, at the age of 18 she began her determined work ethic at the Goodyear Aircraft Corporation, in Goodyear, AZ, where she was a part of the workforce that produced 13 million pounds of military aircraft frames. She moved on later in family life continuing her belief in the moral importance of hard work at the E. L. Gruber Company in Glendale, then secured retirement after 15 years of employment with the Glendale Union High School District at Washington High School, where she was a positive and lasting influence to so many a teen. From Glendale and Tolleson, to Phoenix and San Diego, in stories, pictures, letters and words from family, she leaves us with 87 years of incredibly beautiful, lasting memories. Now joining her mother and father, sisters Anita, Elpidia, Frances and Virginia, brothers Alejandro, Raymundo, and Jose, all having preceded her in reunion, may God grant to us that we too will see her one day again, in an ultimate family reunion. God love you, Mom, and may He keep you forever comforted till the day we return to you. WE LOVE YOU MORE.