Obituary of Estela Dallons

Estela (Nana) Vargas-Dallons, 89, of Oak Park, CA, passed away on March 22, 2024, in Moorpark, CA.

Funeral services will be held in Westlake Village on Saturday, April 6 at 12 noon with Father Jim Stehly of St. Jude’s Catholic Church officiating. Visitation will be held in Simi Valley on Thursday April 4th from 5 to 9pm at Rose Family Funeral Home.   

Mom was born in 1935 in the State of Hidalgo, Mexico, the fourth child of what would eventually become seven children, to parents Ubaldo Vargas and Sara Vasquez. A bit of a tomboy as a child, mom took advantage of any opportunity to participate in activities that only boys enjoyed in her day such as riding a bicycle or roller skating. Sometimes she got away with it, sometimes not. After graduation from high school, she worked as a seamstress. In 1960 she came to the United States. It was there that she met Dad, and they married in November of 1961 and remained together for 61 years until his death in 2023. During our school days, mom worked as a beautician in a local salon.  Family was always her first priority. She often reminded us that, after she was gone, we would only have each other and so, protecting and nurturing our relationship as siblings and cousins was of prime importance. There were many summers and sometimes, entire school years, that our Lizarraga cousins from Ensenada, Mexico and our Estrada cousins from Toluca, Mexico would stay with us. These visits were the fertile soil that nurtured our close relationships to this day.  

Mom’s loving and generous nature endeared her to many who considered her their second mom and dearest friend.  She enjoyed gardening and caring for her many parakeets. She was very much an animal-lover which made it easy for us as kids to convince her to let us have just one more pet. She loved to crochet, knit and sew and she was good at it.  She made beautiful baby blankets for all her grandchildren and great grandchildren which was a true expression of the love mom had for her family.  It was common to find her at the end of the day, sitting on the couch crocheting and watching her favorite Latin-American novelas.   She was always there for her children and extended family, whether it be for a birthday party, graduation or a wedding or even to help with babysitting her grandchildren.  She was so good with babies.  She had such a nurturing and loving soul about her.  She was approachable, friendly and radiated a sense of warmth and love that was felt by many. 

Mom’s final days were spent with her grandchildren and great-granddaughters. In spite of her weakened condition, she found the strength to get out of bed and sit in her chair so that she could hold her newest great-granddaughter, Murphy Estela Vasilev, who was just two weeks old.  

Mom was a founding member of St. Jude’s Catholic Church and she and dad were long-time members of the parish Rosary group.

Mom is survived by her two daughters, Jizelle Gomes and son-in-law, Carlos Gomes, Denise Aubuchon and son-in-law, John Aubuchon, and son, Dave Dallons and daughter-in-law, Gittan Dallons; her grandchildren Christopher, Aleks, and Nikolai Vasilev, Nathan and Bryelle Dallons, and Audrey Gomes, and six great-granddaughters: Kennedy, Caydence, Sara, Charlie, Ariya, and Murphy. Mom’s granddaughter, Sara Vasilev, preceded her in death. Mom is the last of her siblings to leave us. 

Mom, you did a wonderful job! You have left us a legacy of love and family that will carry on for generations to come. Thank you, mom. We love you.