Esther S. Gonzalez was born in El Paso, Texas on January 27, 1930, to Elvira (Vera) Castillo and Antonio Sedillo. Esther came to California on December 21,1941, traveling by car with her younger sister Margaret (Peggy), young Emma Castillo (Vera’s sister), Esther’s aunt Loraine, and Loraine’s son ‘Sonny’, driven from Texas by a couple (man and woman) whose connection Esther does not remember. Her mother Vera was already living in California, and this trip brought mother and daughters together again.
Esther grew up in the City of Los Angeles, and graduated from Belmont High School. In her early 20’s she worked at Security Bank in Los Angeles.
Esther met her future husband Alfred (Al) Gonzalez at the wedding of her sister Peggy and Kenneth Rashoff, Al’s longtime friend. Esther and Al were married in Los Angeles on April 8, 1951. In 1967 the family relocated to Fresno, where Esther was again employed by Security Bank, and in 1969 she began working for Fresno County as a secretary in the Municipal Court at the Fresno County Courthouse in downtown Fresno. She retired from Fresno County in 1992.
Esther and Al had four children, Christine, Marc, Ronald, and Paul. They had four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Esther was the eldest of 16 first cousins, all of whom she cherished.
After their children were grown, Esther and Al loved to travel. Over the years they visited Europe, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and the Hawaiian Islands, as well as many other states within the US. Esther and Al were very happy together and celebrated 65 years of marriage.
Esther loved her retirement years; walking in the morning, having time to go shopping (especially with her daughter Christine), ballroom dancing with Al, and playing bingo at the American Legion Post 509, where she was a regular for many years. Esther spent the last four years living independently at Fairwinds – Woodward Park. She loved her home and the many special friends she found at Fairwinds.
A visitation for Esther will be held Tuesday, November 28, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home, 836 E. Nees Ave., Fresno, CA 93720. Services are private.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitehurstsullivan.com for the Gonzalez family.
