Estefana Lueza

December 26, 1922 - January 7, 2023

Estefana Lueza Villafaña December 26, 1922-January 7, 2023.

Estefana, the daughter of a migrant worker was born in Houston, Texas to Porfirio Lueza,(Loeza). Her father worked laying down rail for the train system. Her father, mother, brothers and a sister eventually return to their home town of Irapuato, Guanajuato Mexico where Estefana married and began raising a family of her own. She bore 6 surviving children, Margarita, Lilia, Carmen, Eduardo, Manuel, Gabriela.

In January 1961, Polio spread through the city, and her 4th child, Eduardo, was diagnosed with Polio. Seeking to obtain medical treatment for him, several members of her family recommend she move to the United States. In 1963, Estefana moved to the United State, arriving in San Francisco, California, with five of her six children, Lilia, Carmen, Eduardo, Manuel, and the youngest, Gabriela. Her eldest daughter, Margarita, was already married and starting a family of her own in Mexico.

After years of working various jobs, cleaning homes, working at a florists shop, she eventually obtained full time employment at the American Poultry Company as a butcher. In 1989, after having worked for many years at the American Poultry Company, Estefana retired.

Estefana was not accustomed to staying home, so after a few months, a friend from the American Poultry Company took her to eat at the 30th Street Senior Center. She loved it so much that she decided to volunteer at the center. Estefana began working at the center, initially cleaning tables and prepping the dining room she eventually starting working in the kitchen which she preferred, having previously work as a butcher, she preferred voluntary work, this gave her the freedom of choosing when she wanted to work rather than having a fixed schedule, in the kitchen, she helped prepare the daily hot meals, some to be delivered to the elderly that were home bound, and for any senior that came to the center to enjoy the hot meal with family and friends. After close to 30 years of volunteering at the 30th Street Senior Center, Estefana retired.

Estefana lived to celebrate her 100th birthday on December 26, 2023 with her family and friends.

Estefana is survived by her children, Margarita Barroso, Lilia Vega, Carmen Rodriguez, Eduardo Martinez, Manuel Martinez, Gabriela Turcios, nineteen grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.