ELSA ESTELA MITCHEL DE MENDIOLA
1932-2019
passed away after suffering a stroke on January 15th, 2019. She was born on November 12, 1932 to Octavio Enrique Mitchel and Zilia Blanca Montes de Mitchel in Havana, Cuba. She graduated from Escuela Normal de Kindergarten of Havana, Cuba in 1959 with a degree in teaching. She married Victor Alejandro Mendiola, M. D., her soulmate, on April 6, 1962 in Havana and had 2 children, Victor Octavio Mendiola and Alejandro Martin Mendiola. She fled Cuba’s oppressive Communist regime and came to Miami, Florida in 1967. She moved shortly thereafter to Houston, Texas where she taught in the HeadStart Program for several years until she and her husband opened up his medical practice 48 years ago. She worked alongside him throughout all those years, helping him to care for patients as the office manager during this time. She was the welcoming smile and understanding ear the patients saw in the front office. She took a genuine interest in their welfare and they worked together as a team, offering the best medical care they could during their 46 year tenure. She also managed their household, and took in all the grandchildren (6 at the time) every Friday and Saturday for years and spoiled them with great love and kindness. She instilled in them and in her immediate family a sense of loyalty and caring for one another. Elsa loved to have parties alongside her husband, bringing joy to others through food and hospitality. She was a wonderful mother in law and helped out her son’s families in any way she could. Elsa loved to go to the beach and especially enjoyed feeling the sea breeze and being in the water, enjoying the waves. Her laughter and smile was infectious. Her warmth and affection will sorely be missed by all who knew her. She is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband of 56 years, Victor Alejandro Mendiola, M. D., and her cousin Julio Montes. She is survived by her children, Victor Octavio Mendiola, M. D. and wife Doris Garrido M. D., Alejandro Martin Mendiola and wife Carrie Lynn Wagner Mendiola, and her grandchildren Victor Ramon Mendiola, Anna Marie Mendiola, Sara Alejandra Mendiola, Alejandro Joseph Mendiola, Ignacio Martin Mendiola, Amy Teresa Mendiola, and Cecilia Catalina Mendiola. A Visitation celebrating her life will be held at The SettegastKopf Co. @ Sugar Creek on Sunday, January 20th from 3:00pm-7:00 pm with a Rosary beginning at 6:00pm A funeral Mass will be held at St Laurence Catholic Church, 3100 Sweetwater Blvd, Sugar Land, TX 77479 on Monday, January 21, 2019 at 10 am with a reception to follow. Graveside services will be at 1 pm at Forest Park Westheimer,12800 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77077 for immediate family only. Tribute and or words of condolence can be left at www.settegastkopf.com.