Olga Estella Valdez Gomez

Olga Estella Gomez, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother entered eternal rest on September 13, 2026, in Scottsdale, Arizona, surrounded by family. She was born on October 30, 1928, in San Pedro, California, the eldest daughter of Benigno G. Valdez and Mercedes (Espinoza) Valdez.

Olga is survived by her youngest brother Richard Valdez (Melissa) of California, her sons, Christopher (Mary) of Maryland, Stephen (Amy) of Arizona, Antoine (Jean) of Arizona, and Adrian (Hao) of Virginia; eight grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and numerous extended family members…nieces, nephews and beyond.

She grew up in a house her father built at 622 Oliver Street, a house filled with 10 siblings over the years. Olga’s childhood memories paint a portrait of a close-knit community filled with lifelong friendships, nearby relatives, and strong family ties. Her teenage years were framed by America’s emergence from the Great Depression and the looming uncertainty of World War II. Yet her recollections of those days were often colored by the romance, optimism, and excitement projected from the silver screens of nearby Los Angeles.

It was during those years that she met Glibert (“Gil”) Gomez, the new boy in the neighborhood, recently arrived from Kansas. The two quickly caught each other’s eye. Gil made friends with her older brothers and would often visit them at her home, knowing he also would see her there. They remained close until he enlisted in the Navy during World War II at age 17. After the war, they dated and married in November 1947, beginning a partnership that would span seventy-four remarkable years. Together they built a life centered on family, service, and devotion.

As a military wife and mother, Olga embraced the many adventures and challenges that came with her husband’s service. Their journeys took them across the United States and overseas, including assignments in Louisiana, Panama, California, Maryland, Brazil, North Dakota, and New York. Wherever the family lived, Olga transformed each house into a warm and welcoming home.

Ever the homemaker, Olga ran a tight ship. Her homes were neat and orderly, always ready to welcome guests, relatives, and friends. Over the years, many of her family members spent extended time living in the Gomez household, enriching the childhoods of her boys, and helping maintain close connections stretching back to their roots in San Pedro. After Gil retired from the military, they spent most of the next 37 years in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. There she supported presidential campaigns, attended inaugural balls, and ventured into owning a small dry-cleaning business. She and Gil loved to travel, traveling to places both near and far that resonated with their spiritual lives, visiting shrines and other holy places in North America and Europe.

Their sons’ classmates and friends were always welcome in their Oxon Hill, Maryland home whether for celebrating memorable gatherings, such as birthdays, graduations, and holidays, or for just hanging out. Her cooking reflected influences from her travels, as well as family recipes, including her mother’s calabacitas, red tamales at Christmas, and mole poblano made with a healthy dollop of peanut butter. As a result, Thanksgivings and Christmas were often replete with both traditional and non-traditional foods.

In later years, Gil and Olga moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. A more temperate climate and nearby family made the move a natural evolution in their life story. They continued to host family and friends. Olga learned to explore the internet, often listening to new songs written and performed by her grandsons’ touring rock band. She also used the internet to keep up with the many events in their loved ones’ lives, especially their grandchildren. Olga arranged an ever-changing prayer alter where she placed photos to bless her family with good fortune, health and safe travels as they individually undertook their own adventures.

Her love, strength, and dedication created a foundation that now extends through generations. She leaves behind a legacy of family, hospitality, loyalty, and enduring love that will continue to live on in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.