Athena Camille Escobar

With a heavy heart, we announce that Athena Camille Escobar passed away March 8, 2025 at the age of 41 from complications of a car accident 11 years ago. She was born at Saint Joseph Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona on April 20, 1983 on a beautiful spring day.

Athena graduated from ASU with a BA in Education. She taught High School Special Needs at Raymond S. Kellis in Glendale and Cesar Chavez in Phoenix before her accident. Athena facilitated the Special Olympic and Best Buddy Program at both schools. Her pride and joy was teaching and caring for her Special Needs students.

Athena coached the Raymond S. Kellis-Katastrophic Hip Hop Team and won a State Competition – First Place in 2011. She was so proud of her team. Athena was also coach to the Cesar Chavez Cheer Team and the Sunrise Mountain JV Cheer Team. She used her love for dancing and cheerleading experience to integrate her Best Buddy Program into cheer and dance programs to give her students opportunities to shine. When it came to her students, her generosity knew no bounds.

She played softball in Glendale Leagues, danced for over 10 years at the Stagedoor, Devney’s Dance Academy and for her High School Mountain Ridge in Glendale. Her feet never stopped. Athena was active and enjoyed outdoor activities but mostly loved hanging out by lakes and the ocean.

Her radiant smile lit up any room she entered. She lived life to the fullest and especially loved spending time with her family, friends, and her Jack Russell Terrier - Chloe. Although Athena is gone, she will live in our hearts forever.

She is survived by her parents David and Vivian; brother Nathan (Cindy), nephew Xavier and niece Aviana; Grandmother Socorro Vasquez; aunts, Thelma Vasquez, Yolanda Sanchez, Sylvia Morales, Sandra Escobar, JoAnn Escobar and Diana Escobar, and uncle Jack Escobar and many cousins.

Preceded in death by grandparents Ygnacio Vasquez, Jack Escobar and Adelina Escobar, uncles David Morales and Ernest Sanchez.

Visitation – Wednesday, April 2, 2025 from 4 to 8 p.m. – Vigil at 6 p.m. - West Resthaven Funeral Home, 6450 W. Northern, Glendale, Arizona 85301. Funeral Mass – Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. – Saint Thomas More Church, 6180 West Utopia Road, Glendale, Arizona 85308 – To be Livestreamed at http://stmglendale.org/specialevents

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Cesar Chavez High School or Raymond S. Kellis High School Special Olympic programs in Athena’s name.