Rebecca Estepa Hornibrook

Rebecca Estepa Hornibrook of Atascadero, CA, age 97, passed away on Monday April 27, 2026 surrounded by friends and family. Rebecca, one of eight children was born in Baguio City, the summer capital of the Philippines. When she immigrated to the United States in 1958 she was a licensed Doctor of Dentistry and did her specialty in Periodontics Dentistry at the Guggenheim School of Dentistry. In a class of 30 students, Ms. Estepa was one of two women selected into this specialty. Rebecca then shifted the focus of her professional career to cancer research where she was a published research scientist at Columbia University Institute of Cancer Research. Rebecca B. Estepa and John P. Hornibrook met in 1963 at a Kingdom Hall in New York City and within the year were married in Toronto Canada. The couple moved into a duplex in the Bronx and in 1966 had their son James. At that time Rebecca took a hiatus from her professional career. They later moved to Pompton Lakes, New Jersey. Rebecca would go in to resumed her cancer research career. In 1972 their daughter Eleanor was born. From New Jersey the Hornibrook family moved to Stockton, California to be closer to Rebecca’s extended family. In 1981 John passed away. In Stockton, Rebecca decided to work for the State of California as a Licensed Psychiatric Technician and after 33 years of service retired at age 83.

Rebecca was a devout Jehovah’s Witness whose commitment included pioneering, bible study, and preaching. She was a world traveler and an avid hiker. Mrs. Hornibrook had a beautiful voice. She and her husband often sang duets of famous show tunes and traditional Philippine songs in Tagalog. Rebecca was an amazing cook which she shared with her family and friends. She was known for her beauty and wonderful sense of fashion.

Rebecca is survived by her sisters Agapita (Rose) Ulopani and Jovita Patacsil; three children Jonathan E. Salazar from her first marriage in the Philippines, James D. Hornibrook and Eleanor L. Hornibrook; her step daughter Carol A. Hornibrook; her six beloved grandchildren and three beloved great grandchildren.

Rebecca’s children and all of the young people she has helped over the years will miss her dearly.

In memory of Rebecca Hornibrook, please consider a donation to the Children’s Cancer Research Fund (cure.childrenscancer.org).