Ernestine Esparza, also known as “Sunny” (for her sunny disposition and personality), was born in Ozona Texas in 1925. Ernestine was the daughter of the town entrepreneur, Santiago Vargas and a stay-at-home mother, Maria Vargas. She had a loving mother, a father she adored, and her siblings, were, sisters, Elva, Emma and Evelyn and brothers, Hector, Blas, Ernesto, Yverto and Jimmy. Ernestine is survived by her brother Jimmy Vargas and her sister Elva Eastman. Ernestine married the love of her life Joe Esparza on June 1, 1945. They were married for 68 years. Joe passed away in 2003.
Joe and Ernestine had many children of which 6 survived to adulthood. Joe, Bob, Cynthia, David, Gloria, and John. Bob, sadly, passed away in 2006. All her children were successful and good people who Ernestine was very proud of. They all graduated from college and 3 of them went on to achieve advanced degrees.
Ernestine was an amazing woman. For most of her family, she was known as Grandma, a kind matriarch who had most of her grandchildren live with her at one time or another. Grandma’s door was always open, and she was ready to hear about your life and your family. If you needed a place to live, she always had a room available.
In Vacaville, people remember her as the woman who started a medical clinic for the poor in the early 70s. The clinic lasted for over 30 years. Often people would stop to talk with her at restaurants and say, “You helped me so much thank you for what you do!”
Joe and Ernestine had three businesses that they started after Joe left his military career. They had a furniture and appliance store and 2 Mexican restaurants, one in Lodi and one in Vacaville.
Ernestine was also known for her inspiration to many of her friends and young people she met over the years. Ernestine herself had an honorary bachelor’s degree and attended Solano Community College to take various art classes until she was in her mid-80s.
There is so much to say about Ernestine’s love of life. She would say Vivir Vivir Vivir which means to live, to live to live. Ernestine loved traveling, loved going out to eat and appreciated the good life. Her dancing was legendary and danced well into her 90s.
Ernestine is survived by children, Joe (Marsha) Esparza, Cynthia (Don) Schiff, David (Sandy) Esparza, Gloria (Larry) Engman, and John (Lynn) Esparza, 23 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and 2 great great-grandchildren, and her caretaker Oralia Altamarino and Oralia’s daughters, Denise and Muncie, who we owe a debt of gratitude.
