Esther Guzman Bernal

On Friday July 28, 2023, Esther Guzman Bernal passed away surrounded by her family in Watsonville. She was 65. Esther was born on October 1, 1957, in San Juan Cosala, Jalisco, Mexico to her parents Ismael and Ana Maria Guzman. She immigrated with her family to the U.S. in 1973 and became a longtime resident of Watsonville.

Esther worked for over 20 years at Richard A Shaw Frozen Foods, and continued working there when it was sold to Dean Frozen Foods. Over the years, she held various job titles. She decided to return to school and pursue a career in the health field and completed her CNA certification. She loved helping people and found opportunities to help in different health settings.

She was known for her cooking, especially her famous posole and tamales. She loved spending time in the garden and tending to her many plants and flowers. She especially enjoyed excursions to the nearest casinos where she could spend countless hours playing the slots. She was known to many around town, and she couldn’t go anywhere without bumping into somebody she knew.

Esther is survived by her loving husband Joel R. Bernal and her five children, Adriana, Patricia, Jose, Victoria, and Ana. She will remain in the hearts of her siblings Livier, Sergio, Rosaura, Ana Isabel, Alicia, Nancy, Soledad, Martha, Ruth, Carlos, Francisco, Ismael, George, and Beatriz, who was given her name in honor of her baby sister. She will always be loved and remembered by her Grandchildren, Aaron, Emily, Caroline, Joshua, Penelope, Ezekiel, Benjamin, Berkeley, and Reagan.

Esther is proceeded in death by her parents Ismael and Ana Maria and her two sisters Ernestina and baby sister Beatriz, who died as a toddler.

Visitation services will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2023, from 5-9 pm at Ave Maria Memorial Chapel. Mass will be held on Friday, August 11, 2023, at Holy Eucharist Catholic Community at 11 am.