Estelle "Essie" Katherina Busco

"Essie" (Estelle Katherina) Busco passed away at her home in City Heights on December 14th, 2022. She was 93 years old. She is survived by her husband Jess Busco, her daughter Janice Busco, her son Francis Busco (AKA Francis Jeffrey), her grandson Cosmo Fazal Caleb Busco Diskan, her granddaughter Noor Eliza Sophia Busco Diskan and her sister Aileen Margot Dowdy.

Essie was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 14th, 1929. She was the second daughter of Frieda Alma Wolford (nee Schmalz) and Vincent Arthur Augustus Wolford. Shortly after her birth the family relocated to San Diego for her father’s work in the US Navy. Sadly, her father was killed on October 21st, 1943, during the partial sinking of the USS Murphy, a Naval Destroyer headed to the European theater out of the New York harbor. Her mother Frieda never remarried and remained proud of their status as one of many Gold Star families following the war.

Essie graduated from Hoover High School. She met her husband Jess in 1943. They corresponded faithfully through World War II and were married in 1948 shortly after Jess’s return from the Pacific Theater. They remained married until her death 74 years later, a loving partnership of nearly 80 years. Essie’s two children, Francis and Jan, both achieved advanced college degrees, the first generation in their family to do so. Essie was a hard-working, sweet, keenly intelligent and attentive mother. Her early home schooling of Jan and Frank, particularly teaching both to read at an early age, paved the way for their academic achievements and lifelong love of reading.

Following their children’s departures from home Essie and Jess turned their attention to animal care. Over the decades they provided medical care, spay\neuter, food, shelter and rehoming services for hundreds of cats in the City Heights neighborhood. Their final rescue cat “Candy” still resides at their home.

Essie played piano weekly at the United States Cottage in Balboa Park in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, filling the air of the park with music for more than three decades and encouraging a love of music across generations and cultures. She also was part of a quartet who entertained with sing-alongs in convalescent homes and hospitals. Essie’s love of music started at a young age. She was a self-taught pianist, played guitar and harmonica, and sang from childhood onward, including in classes at San Diego City College.

Essie was also a prodigious painter, sketch artist, and photo colorist. Her commercial work includes the colorization of thousands of sepia tone portraits of families, military personnel and students taken at the Busco Studios in the 1940s, 50’s, and 60’s. Her private work includes portraiture and landscape work across multiple formats. Professionally Essie worked at Marston’s department store, the Busco Studios on Fifth Avenue and as an independent contractor.

Throughout her life, Essie was known for her kindness and generosity. She saw and brought out the best in others. She kept a beautiful welcoming home and garden.

Essie was interred at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on December 28, 2022, in view of the city in which she spent her life. A memorial sing-along is planned for summer 2023. In lieu of flowers the family asks us to love one another, keep an eye out for Jess, and for donations to be made to your local animal rescue organization.