Esther V. Villicana

Esther Vera Villicaña passed away on November 13, 2023 after a long illness. Esther was born on June 13, 1933 in Oxnard, and grew up on the Leonard Ranch on the corner of Victoria and Gonzalez Road. She attended primary, middle and high school in Oxnard, graduating from Oxnard High School in 1952.

Esther met the love of her life, our father, Ramon Villicaña, her senior year in high school and married him, on January 2, 1956; our parents were married 68 years until our father's passing on January 4, 2023.

Esther began her working career with the Oxnard Union High School District in 1962 as a Classified Clerk in the Human Resources division. Esther retired from OUHSD in 1990 after 28 years of service, where she was also instrumental in helping our father receive his teaching credential and also retire from OUHSD. Always the helper that she was, Esther went on to volunteer at St. John's Regional Medical Center for another 25 years while also working in the office of the Santa Clara Chapel in El Rio where she and her family attended mass.

Beyond Esther's work ethic, and once retired, she enjoyed spending quality time and socializing with all her family. Our mother enjoyed traveling with our father throughout Mexico and Europe, including a special visit to Our Lady of Lourdes. Esther also served on the Oxnard Sister City Council along with our father for over 15 years.

Esther is survived daughter Sylvia Ochoa (Raymond); son Ernest Villicaña (Rachel); daughter Susana Marie Villicaña; grandchildren Corine Ochoa (Carlos), Ray Ochoa Jr., Laura Ochoa (Candace), Angelica Preimesberger (Jeremy), and Paloma Villicaña; great-grandchildren, Maya Escobar, Annalise Escobar (Richard), Elijah Morales, Alina and Jackson Preimesberger; and great-great-grandsons Dominic and Damien Valdivia. She is preceded in death by her parents, Aurelio Vera and Simona Delgado; brothers Frank Vera, Robert Vera, Pete Vera, Arlen Vera, Fernando Vera and Mike Vera; and sisters, Angelina Baca and Esperanza "Hope" Mendez.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, November 26 at Reardon Funeral Home, 511 North A Street, Oxnard. Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 27 at Santa Clara Chapel, 1333 E. Ventura Blvd, Oxnard. Burial will follow at Santa Clara Cemetery, Oxnard.

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