ESTELLA VICTORIA VARGAS

Wasilla resident Estella Victoria Vargas, 84, died Dec. 17, 2005, at Valley Hospital in Palmer, from complications of surgery. Her family was by her side when she slowly slipped away to meet her Lord.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 501 East Bogard Road. Pastor Duane Hanson will officiate. Her ashes will be buried at Wasilla Aurora Cemetery.

Ms. Vargas' family, originally from Colombia, traveled, living in Bogotá, Colombia, New York, and France, but moved permanently to the United States in 1943. They lived in New York City until moving to Los Angeles in 1954.

Ms. Vargas resided with her parents until their deaths.

She continued living in California and moved to Alaska in March 2001 to live with her brother and family in Wasilla. She moved to Colony Manor on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, living there until her death.

Her family wrote, &#8220Estella loved living in Alaska. She went to the Palmer Senior Center, joining in their activities, singing, painting, and having lunch with them.

&#8220On the drive in to Palmer, she loved looking at the mountains and often said, ‘There are my mountains.' She had two parakeets and sang to them every day.”

Ms. Vargas is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Luis and Jan Vargas of Wasilla; sister, Olga Brown of Mesa, Ariz.; nephew, Richard Brown of Apache Junction, Ariz.; niece and husband, Monica and Reggie Brox; grandniece, Justina Brox; grandnephew, Isiah Brox; nephew and wife, Luis and Riza Vargas, and grandnephews, Kai and Luke Vargas, all living in California. She has many cousins throughout the country and in Colombia.

Her parents, Pedro and Victoria Vargas, preceded her in death.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1057 W. Fireweed Lane, Suite 204, Anchorage, AK 99503.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory.