Estela L. Fanjul

Estela Linares Fanjul, “Ami” to her family, born on August 7, 1941, in Managua, Nicaragua, returned to her beloved family and God in heaven, on the evening of April 7, 2025, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Estela moved to the United States in the 1950’s yet remained deeply proud of her Nicaraguan heritage, often speaking fondly of her childhood there. In September 1961, she married Rafael James Fanjul in New Orleans, Louisiana. They met while she was attending St. Mary’s Dominican College, and he was studying at Tulane University. Rafael calls her “the love of my life” to this day. He remembers her as “a beautiful person.”

Together, they built a life rooted in love and adventure. After settling in West Palm Beach near family and welcoming their first children Margaret, Rafael Jr. and Regina, they moved abroad to Panama then Namibia, where their youngest son, Juan Carlos, was born. She loved the Namib Desert and often went searching for semi-precious stones there. She also really enjoyed watching the varied exotic wildlife in the desert. The family continued their journey living abroad through Ecuador and Brazil before returning to West Palm Beach.

Estela had a passion for languages and spoke Spanish, English, French, some Afrikaans, and German. Her love of travel and curiosity about the world enriched her family’s life. They would travel to many different places while living abroad. She cherished time with her loved ones and took great joy in watching her family grow often reflecting with pride, “We started out as 2 and became 21.” She also encouraged education, a value embraced by her family.

She loved hosting her friends and family in her home as well. She was an amazing cook. She had a quick wit and “Joi De Vivre “, especially with her friends. She was an accomplished tennis and squash player. She was an avid bridge player all of her life. She enjoyed speaking French with her Les Amis French Club. She also belonged to the Girls of Palm Beach Club and the Intercontinental Club of West Palm Beach.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Rafael, and her children Margaret Montalvo (Juan) and their children Frankie, (Alexis) (great grandchildren Jay and Emilia), Bianca, and Rafael; Rafael Fanjul Jr. (Teresa) and their child Rafael III; Regina Moldovan (Kristopher) and their children Bella, Cecilia and Benjamin; Juan Carlos Fanjul (Helia) and their children Ariana and Adrian; and her sister, Marta Linares. She was preceded in death by her parents Julio and Blanca Linares and brother Julio Linares Jr. She will be remembered always as a strong and loving matriarch whose warmth touched many lives.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, April 27 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Quattlebaum Funeral and Cremation Center, 5411 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Florida 33417. A funeral Mass will follow on Monday, April 28 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Ann Catholic Church, 310 North Olive, West Palm Beach Florida 33401; with a burial at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery, 10941 Southern Boulevard, Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Ann Place Outreach Center in her memory. 2107 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, Florida 33407.