Born on March 29, 1941, in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Adolfo Villarreal and Elena Rosas, Estella grew up with a vibrant spirit and a deep love for her Texas roots. She graduated from Mary Carroll High School, where she made lifelong memories before later relocating to Brownsville—the community she would proudly call home for the rest of her life.
Estella was a woman defined by her generosity, leadership, and unwavering commitment to helping others. Throughout the 1980s, she was a contributor to her local community, pouring her time and energy into volunteer work. She served with dedication in the Christian Women’s Club, the Republican Party of Texas, and the Elks Lodge. As a Girl Scout Troop Leader, she mentored young girls with the same patience, wisdom, and encouragement that she brought to her own family. Later in life, Estella brought her warm smile and work ethic to a fulfilling 17-year career with H.E.B. Beginning in 1999, she became a familiar and beloved face to colleagues and shoppers alike until her well-deserved retirement in 2016.
Beyond her community service and career, Estella’s true love was her family. She found her greatest joy in being a devoted mother, grandmother, and friend. Her home was often filled with laughter, the competitive energy of playing lotería and bingo, and the excitement of cheering on her beloved Dallas Cowboys. We will remember her not only for the miles she traveled and the adventures she chased in her final years, but for the quiet afternoons she spent tending to her beloved plants. She found immense joy in watching life bloom around her.
Estella was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Phillip Leo Bergeron; her dear daughters, Grace Ellen Grayson and Julie Ann Hooker; her grandsons, Jeffrey Earl and Christopher Loyd Grayson; her parents, Elena Rosas-Valverde and Adolfo Villarreal; and her sister, Susanna Garza.
Her beautiful legacy lives on through her surviving family. She leaves behind her children, Daryl Fuentes and his wife Anne, and Teresa Bergeron-Johnson and her husband Christopher. She was the proud grandmother of seven grandchildren: Christina Ann Fuentes, Nicole Marie Fuentes, Nicholas Daryl Fuentes, Dale Allen Hooker, Rebecca Lynn Hooker-Martin, Estella Leeann Hooker-Torres, and Van Leo Johnson. She is also survived by her brother, Robert Villarreal, and her sister, Annie Arnett, along with a host of extended family and dear friends who will miss her deeply.
In accordance with her wishes, a private family gathering to scatter her ashes will take place at a later date.
