Dolores Estrada Varela

Dolores Estrada Varela, a cherished woman with an elegant and strong demeanor, sadly passed away on Saturday, September 21, 2024, after her battle with stage IV pancreatic cancer. She was diagnosed in November 2023 and valiantly fought this disease for 11 months until her last breath surrounded by loved ones.

Dolores was born on July 17, 1949, in Mesilla, New Mexico to parents, Tomas Duran Sr. and Rosela Estrada Duran. She grew up with her seven siblings in Roseville, California with which she remained close until her passing. She raised her two daughters, Laura Martinez-Teel and Shawn Giakoumis, after her late husband, Charles William Martinez unexpectedly passed in 1978.

Dolores met Anthony “Tony” Varela in 1980, and they were married in 1984 at St. Rose Catholic Church. Anthony and Dolores were married for 40 years and settled down in Antelope, CA where they built their dream home together and gathered with family and friends.  She was a professional cosmetologist for 50 years and passionately ran her own business until she retired in 2020. She has traveled and lived all throughout California as a military spouse. She also enjoyed spending time with family, dancing, listening to music, watching anything related to cowboys and westerns, and of course tending to her beautiful garden in her backyard.

Dolores took pride in her health and appearance and always made time to present her best self.  Her beauty and inner radiance commanded the attention when entering a room that people were naturally drawn to. She shared her smile, tears, laugh, guidance, wisdom, and offered a shoulder to lean on for 75 years of her life until her final passing.

Family was her ultimate priority, and she whole-heartedly gave her time and attention to those in need. She devoted much of her time with her family and friends and she will be incredibly missed here on earth, but forever in our hearts. She is now at peace, no longer in pain, and surrounded by the warm embrace of God as an angel welcomed into his kingdom of heaven. She will be looking down and guiding all the lives that she has touched here on earth until we may be rejoined with her once more.

Survived by: Husband Anthony “Tony” Varela; daughters Laura Martinez-Teel and Shawn Giakoumis; grandchildren Charles Martinez, Lindsay Kram-Gonzalez and Taylor Martinez-Teel; mother, Rosela Duran; brothers Jeronimo “Jerry” Duran, Tomas “Tommy” Duran Jr., and Enrique “Henry” Duran Sr.; sisters Rebecca “Becky” Duran, Susanna “Susie” Guerra, Rosemary Duran; godsons Michael Martinez and Daniel “Danny” Alarcon.  She is survived by a plethora of adoring nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Dolores was preceded in death by her father, Tomas Duran (2015); brother Andres “Andy” Duran Sr. (1989); and late husband, Charles William Martinez (1978) who we have faith will be greeting her at the pearly gates of heaven.

Funeral services for Dolores are as follows:

• Visitation and rosary:  Thursday, October 10 from 6-8pm at the Calvary Funeral Center, 7100 Verner Ave., Citrus Heights, CA  95621
• Funeral Mass:  Friday, October 11 at 10am at St. Rose of Lima Parish, 615 Vine Ave., Roseville, CA  95678
• Reception and Celebration of Life:  at the family home, immediately following the funeral Mass
• Graveside service:  Monday, October 14 at 10am at Calvary Cemetery, 7101 Verner Ave., Citrus Heights, CA  95621