Oralia Vela Estringel

On Saturday, February 18, 2023, Oralia Vela Estringel, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and aunt passed away peacefully at the age of 83 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Oralia was born on June 14, 1939, in Bishop Texas to Reymundo Vela Sr. and Josefa G. Vela, both deceased.

One of eleven siblings, three of whom passed away in infancy, Oralia was part of a very close-knit family of migrant workers and learned hard work at a tender age. Alongside her parents and siblings, she picked cotton in West Texas, strawberries, cherries, apples and pickles in Michigan, and potatoes in Ohio, returning home in late September to begin school.

By age 16, Oralia was compelled to quit high school in support of her family. She took a job at Bill’s Grocery Store in Corpus Christi, Texas. It was during this time she met her future husband and father of her five children.

Oralia often relayed stories to her children of those days in the 1950s, reassuring them that, although the work was hard, the family was happy. She recounted that despite the frequent travels to work as a migrant family, Saturday was always reserved to rest, unwind and spend time as a family. Oralia deeply loved her parents and siblings. Her upbringing served as a catalyst for her deep devotion to family, passion for work and service, and her faith in God.

After marrying Dagoberto Estringel in 1957, Oralia settled in Corpus Christi, Texas and raised a family of five children, to whom she was completely devoted. Oralia provided love and guidance to her children throughout their lives, always encouraging them to pursue their dreams, emphasizing the need for a good education, and especially, faith. She modeled for them the value of service to others, especially those most in need and gave away what little she had to anyone struggling. She taught her children to persevere in the face of life’s obstacles, and, above all, to put God and family first.

By her forties, Oralia was a single mother with three young children at home. To make ends meet she took on various jobs including night security for the Corpus Christi Independent School district, working in nursing/retirement homes, and as a home healthcare worker. She loved working with the elderly community and believed firmly in always treating them with dignity, respect, and honor. During this time, Oralia became involved with the Democratic Party and the League of United Latin American Citizens, volunteering and campaigning for the democratic causes in which she believed and for which she passionately fought.

Ultimately, Oralia found long term employment working maintenance at Del Mar College. She made lasting friendships there and was loved by co-workers and faculty alike. As yet another testament to her caring nature, Oralia’s children recall her carrying spare change in her pocket to use in the vending machines for hungry students.

After retirement from Del Mar College, Oralia dedicated her life to her faith and family. She nurtured her spirit by reading scripture, spending time in church, and practicing devotions, including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. This faith was challenged early in her retirement when she was diagnosed with stomach cancer. As she had with all the challenges she had faced throughout her life, Oralia fought the disease with vigor and a fierce determination to survive. After four, long years of treatment she went into remission.

Oralia’s final years were spent in a nursing home where she was lovingly cared for by the staff at Focused Care and Angel Bright Hospice, her children, grandchildren, and siblings. She attended chapel services at the home, and spent much time in prayer, voicing her desire to be reunited with her parents in heaven. Although she will be greatly missed, her children are comforted with the knowledge that she is, at last, reunited with her son and parents and in the arms of her Savior.

Oralia is preceded in death by her son, Noe Rolando Estringel; her parents, Reymundo Vela Sr and Josefa G Vela; and six siblings: Venturo Vela, Gregorio Abel Vela, Horacio Vela, Reymundo Vela Jr, Lydia Strickland, and Genoveva Anzaldua. She is survived by four children: Bobby (Vickie) Estringel of San Antonio, TX; Denise Michelle Estringel (Adam Rangel) of New Braunfels, TX; Michael Anthony Estringel of Corpus Christi, TX; Annette (Dwayne) Henderson of Corpus Christi, TX; six grandchildren; six great grandchildren, and four siblings.

A visitation will be held on Friday, February 24 at 5:00 p.m. followed by a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Memory Gardens Funeral Home. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, February 25 at 10:00 a.m. at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church. Interment to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemoryGardensFuneralHome.com for the Estringel family.