Esther T. Duran

It is with our deepest sorrow to announce our dearest mother, Esther Trejo Duran, passed away suddenly on October 3, 2024. This has left us devastated. She is preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Juan (Chacho) D. Rivera, her beloved son, Manuel (Gordo) Trejo Duran, her parents, Carmen S. Trejo and Isaac D. Trejo including a few little ones very early in their young lives. As adults, the following brothers and sisters preceded her in death; Jessie Reyes, Nicholas Trejo, Mary Estrada, Arnulfo Trejo, Isaac Trejo, and most recent, her baby sister Angelina (Angie) Castillo.

Our mom said her mother, our Nana Carmen, was the strongest, bravest person in her life! What other mother could survive having to bury two of her very young children within three days? Well Nana, you finally have all your "mihitos" with you! To us, our mom WAS a very strong and brave person because the last ten years of her life, not a day went by that she wasn't in pain due to health reasons.

Like some of her siblings, our mom was born at home, 418 S. Convent/Barrio Viejo. She was raised and lived half of her life in Tucson, however, she also lived in her precious city of San Jose, California, and returned to Tucson to live the last 20 years of her life.

Our mom was dearly loved by all her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, too many to count. Her legacy lives on through them and of course through her six surviving children. She was adored by her "Gordito" who finally has his "Ma" by his side again. Not too long ago, she told me (her only daughter), the reason she wanted to live a long life was to welcome and love all her new great-great-grandchildren. She and her Chacho were known for always welcoming a niece, nephew, or friends of ours into their home, and to some, a place to live.

Our mom is survived by her daughter, Georgia Serrano (Manuel) and five sons; Isaac (Maria), Peter (Kathy), Marcos, Michael (Claudia) and Adrian. Four of my brothers and I would like to say thank you to our brother Marcos for being our parents' caretaker, for it is he that cared for both of them every day during their last years of their lives, while he himself is disabled. We will be forever grateful to him.

One special person who she thought of like a daughter, Valerie Salcido, niece and daughter of her sister Mary, helped our mom with all her personal needs, which included going with her to her doctor's appointments. Many times, she would even cook our mom and Marcos delicious authentic Mexican meals since our poor brother was not known as a "chef!" Thank you, Val, we all appreciate everything you did for our mom.

Mom was the last lone survivor of her brothers and sisters. As my best friend told her one recent day, "Esther, you are the last of the Mohicans!" Well mom, you are no longer a Mohican, you are a young, beautiful and healthy Esther, walking straight and tall, but most of all, without pain.