A Beautiful Angel Entered the world on December 19, 1934. To her late parents Luis Leyba and Panteleona
(Tita) Molina born in the small town of Artesia, New Mexico. Esther is the eldest of six children: Alfred,
Margie, Guadalupe, Martha and Anthony (Tony). At the age of fifteen she moved to Visalia, California to
live with her Aunt and Uncle. Until the age of 18 she decided to move back to Artesia, New Mexico. It is
there where she married Luis Castillo and started a family having her first two children Volanda and Alfred.
A few years later, they moved their family back to San Jose, California. Soon she would extend her family
and have three more children; Lisa,Arcy and Gilbert. She divorced and continued to raise her five children
on her own. She was an Amazing woman who strived to provide a better life for her children. She worked
at Becton-Dickinson for thirty-two years as a production lead. Her job was her 2nd home working
tirelessly to make a better home. Esther was an extraordinary Mother who would always put her children
first and made sure they had the essentials and beyond that. She would often take her children to southern
California to visit her sister Lupe and would even squeeze in a trip to Disneyland. How, she managed to
raise five children, work full time, kept up the household, prepared meals daily was amazing. She was
passionate about cooking her delicious New Mexico home style meals which will be missed and have left an
everlasting taste on our palates; Mouth- watering tortillas, tasty cheese enchiladas, her famous salsa and
amongst food she was also know for her desserts, lemon and chocolate meringue pies and her frozen
champagne salad. She enjoyed when her extended family would visit opening her doors for a place to
stay and spoiling them with her delicious pancakes stacking then high on the plates. She certainly knew the
way to your heart. She always made sure you where feed and if she did not have a meal prepared she would
say " Don't worry, I am faster than Denny's" serving you on the biggest plate she had and portion control
was not part of her vocabulary! For many years Christmas was one of her favorite days to host she
celebrated the reason and invited all the family and then some, she would say, “Forget about those grudges
you may have, make peace and start a new beginning.” Esther, was a beautiful soul with the biggest
HEART, she was very giving and would sometimes rather be without. Her Catholic belief was substantial
to her, a devout Catholic who prayed the rosary daily and would bless you as you entered and
exited her house, she prayed for everyone! She was blessed and gifted with being able to cureOjo and
Susto, many people would come to her for help (it is true ask her children and other family members).
She as very intelligent, independent, courageous, strong, forgiving and a kind hearted, ooh was that
mentioned already! She was a sharp dresser and for every outfit you would find a matching pair of shoes.
She loved music especially Mariachi bands and was a very impressive dancer. When she drove she used
two feet, one on the gas and one on the brake. She loved her sweets; donuts and ice cream where her
favorite. You knew if you went to moms/grandmas, Ice Cream was a must!! Wrinkles where not allowed
in her house she would whip out the Iron and run them flat to the ground. Esther has left us with a life
time of memories and will forever live in each and every one of us. What moves through us is a silence,
sadness, a longing for one more day, word, touch and we may not understand why you left us, but little by
little we begin to remember not that you are gone, but that you LIVED! And that your life gave us
Memories TOO Beautiful to forget! Love you to the Moon and back until we meet again!
