Mary Elizabeth Brechtel

Mary Elizabeth Brechtel passed away peacefully and went to be with her Lord and Savior on November 4, 2024, in her Scottsdale, Arizona home after a 13-year battle with Stage IV Ovarian cancer. As a self-proclaimed Cancer Warrior, Mary believed strongly in walking in faith, not in fear, and exemplified this through her final days.

Mary was born December 8, 1962, in New Orleans, Louisiana to the late Warren and Marilyn Brechtel, and was very proud to share a birthday with the Catholic Church’s feast day of the Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception.

She spent her childhood years in New Orleans and San Antonio before moving to Pompton Lakes, New Jersey where she graduated from DePaul High School. She later earned an undergraduate degree in communications from North Texas State University, and a master’s degree in business and theology from The University of Dallas. Her career highlights included serving as a production assistant at the Sheen Center for Religious Broadcasting in Dallas, and teaching at Saint Louis Elementary and Reicher High Schools in Waco.

Mary was married to her loving husband Weldon Lee Estes, Jr. for 39 years and together they raised three children: Danielle Estes Loose (spouse Garrett), Mariele Estes Hauk (spouse Tyler), and Andrew Estes. She is the sister to Warren Jr. Brechtel, Karen Brechtel Anderson, and Terry Brechtel. Those immediate family members left to celebrate her life and cherish her legacy include her husband, children, brother and sisters, 11 nieces and nephews, and soon-to-be born first grandchild, James Lee Hauk.

She enjoyed traveling the world with Lee, building and renovating homes, cooking, learning about nutrition and health, and spending time with her family, the “Waco Birthday Club” friends, and her beloved dogs.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass on Friday, November 15, 2024 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Dallas, Texas at 10:00 am. Interment will follow the service at Sparkman/Hillcrest Memorial Park.