Estela Belmontes

Estela Belmontes passed on November 16, 2022 in Las Cruces, NM. Estela was born to Trinidad and Epifania Gonzales on December 10,1928 in El Paso TX. During her younger years her father worked for Southern Pacific Railroad which required  the family to move from El Paso to the remote areas of New Mexico and Arizona. So remote were some of these places that their groceries were delivered by train to the sidings where the lived.

Old Tombstone AZ was one of the last places they lived. She attended Tombstone High School and was faithful to her team the Yellow Jackets and continued singing the school fight song even in her eighties!

When her family returned to Texas she worked at the lunch counter in Woolworths in down town El Paso. After WWII Estela her sisters and cousins would attend the many dances they used to have. There she met a handsome young man Juan Belmontes who became her dance partner for life. They were married for 54 years before his death. In the early years they lived in Second Ward surrounded by family and lots of little kids. There, a daughter Linda was born. 

They loved entertaining with their families and would regularly escape the heat and head for the cool mountains of Ruidoso.  Estela was a home maker and kept a clean house and lovely flower garden. She enjoyed ceramics, sewing, jigsaw puzzles and drawing even making handmade Christmas cards.

After the death of Juan she moved to Las Cruces with her daughter and son-in-law. There she continued working in the garden, drawing and visiting with her niece Vangie and later on with her sister Gracie. As time passed she was greatly helped by her friend Dale Ann and they both were would explore the shops and parks of Las Cruces. She attended the Immaculate Heart of Mary and had many friends there. The family is very grateful to all who visited her and to her care givers.

She is survived by her daughter Linda Belmontes Durning, her Son-in-Law Matthew Durning, sisters Yolanda Gandara and Gracie Chirieleison, brothers Alfredo and Armando Gonzales and several nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her siblings, Ramona Ramirez, Amelia Hall, Elena Delgado, Raul Gonzales, Gilbert Gonzales, and Ruben Gonzales. She made lots of memories for her family and will be greatly missed by all.

Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at Sunset Funeral Home-Northeast located at 4631 Hondo Pass Drive, with a Vigil to be said at 6:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church located at 9025 Diana Drive. Interment will follow at Fort Bliss National Cemetery at 11:00 am at Fort Bliss National Cemetery located at 5200 Fred Wilson Avenue.

Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast.  Please visit her online memorial at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net.