Estela Valles De Jacome

Estela Argentina Valles de Jácome passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 20, 2016. Widely known as Tucson’s most considerate and gracious lady, she was the last member of a great generation of a Southern Arizona pioneer family. Her regal demeanor belied her humility, dignity, charm and strength during her extraordinary 101-year life in the Old Pueblo. She exhibited a genteel manner, love, a quiet nature, considerable wisdom and a fine sense of humor.

She was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Dr. Federico Valles Vargas, a renowned surgeon, and Emilia M. Lloret de Valles on July 27, 1914. Estela was predeceased by her parents, her older brother Federico G. Valles, her husband Alejandro (Alex) G. Jácome, former daughter-in-law Gretchen Ronstadt Jácome, and her grandson Gilberto A. Jácome.

Estela and her family migrated to Tucson from Argentina in the early 1920s so that her brother could attend the University of Arizona. Dr. Valles opened his practice in 1922 in his house/office on the corner of 14th Street & South 6th Avenue as a family practitioner where he served a large Hispanic population until his death in 1960. Estela went to the Immaculate Heart Academy, not knowing a word of English, and later graduated from Saint Joseph’s Academy. She met and married Alejandro (Alex) G. Jácome on June 16, 1934. Alex’s extended family included 12 brothers and sisters, which must have presented a challenge to the new bride. Estela had 3 children: Alejandro (Alex) F. Jácome (Ruthann B.), Margarita E. Jácome and Felipe C. Jácome (Karen C.). She thoroughly enjoyed her 5 grandchildren: Natalie Johnske (David), Suzanne Jácome, Alex J. and Federico C. Jácome (Julie), 10 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren.

Her loves were her husband, family, ballet, handiwork, natural history, classical music, poetry, and art and she was a voracious reader. Well traveled, she spent time in the Americas and Europe. Estela often accompanied her husband to Europe and Latin America on buying trips where her knowledge, sense of style and acuity proved valuable in establishing the stellar Import Department at Jácome’s Department Store in downtown Tucson. As such, she played an integral role as partner, advisor, best friend, cultural matriarch and wife to Alex until his death in January 1980. As “the power behind the throne,” she elegantly and expertly filled the positions of confidante, protocol advisor, and mentor, while raising her children and managing an immaculate home. An avid knitter and embroiderer, she not only kept Alex supplied with argyle socks but knitted sweaters and dresses for the Lady’s Department at the store and supported the “Bundles for Britain” Program during the London Blitz in World War II, while also serving as a volunteer at St. Mary’s Hospital. Estela was an accomplished seamstress and designed and made a variety of costumes for local charity events, as well as custom necklaces and other jewelry.

Estela was among the founding members of St. Luke’s Board of Visitors, the Baile de Las Flores and the Tucson Festival Society. Other activities included the Silver and Turquoise Ball, St. Mary’s Auxiliary, as well as the Skyline and Tucson Country Clubs. She was an early hostess of the Tucson Charity Golf Tournament at El Rio Country Club. Her personal philanthropies included the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Patronato San Xavier del Bac, Tucson Museum of Art, Community Food Bank, the Salvation Army, Tucson Symphony Women, Alzheimer’s Association, Catholic Social Services, Heifer International and Los Descendientes del Presidio de Tucson. Estela also served as a docent at the Arizona State Museum in the 1970s and later on the local and state boards of the Arizona Historical Society. In 1994 she was honored to serve as a Dona for Los Descendientes del Presidio de Tucson and gracefully continued her participation until 2015 as one of Tucson’s best-known cultural ambassadors. Her talents, grace, kindness, compassion and willingness to help will be sorely missed by a grateful family, her many friends and all Tucsonans.

The family would also like to acknowledge the compassionate support and excellent care provided over the years by her daughter-in-law, Karen Jácome, and the professional caregivers at Casa de La Luz Hospice and Villa Hermosa. Special thanks are extended to Maricela Ross, Heather Grout, Carmen Cortes and Mona Peterson for their professional and compassionate assistance to Estela.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in her memory to any of these worthy charities, a philanthropy of your choice, or the Jácome Foundation Scholarship at the University of Arizona.

A Mass in Celebration of Estela’s life is scheduled at Saints. Peter & Paul Church on Saturday, July 30, 2016 at 11 AM.

Arrangements under the direction of East Lawn Palms Mortuary, Tucson, AZ.