Official Obituary of
Rene Albert Estrada
January 18, 1936 ~ February 9, 2024 (age 88) 88 Years Old
Rene Estrada Obituary
Rene Albert Estrada, educator, administrator and former mayor of Witless Bay, died at his home this past week of natural causes. Rene was born in Whittier, California (1936) to Marcial Estrada and Helen Gomez Estrada and was preceded in death by his brother Marshall Estrada Jr. He is survived by his younger brother Larry J. Estrada of Bellingham, Washington and several nieces and nephews in Washington, California and Hawaii. Rene Estrada was a revered educator and community activist in several countries. His teaching and educational administrative career included extended periods of time and service in Seattle, Washington; Vancouver, Canada; Arequipa, Peru; Roseau, Dominica (B.W.I.), and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Rene was a graduate of Bishop Cantwell High School in Montebello, California. He obtained his B.A. at Iona University (New Rochelle, New York), his M.A. in foreign languages and higher education at the Spanish Language Center of the Technological University of Monterey, Mexico and a M.Ed at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador.
As a teacher, headmaster, principal, community organizer and chief archivist for the Catholic Church and the Archbishop of Newfoundland over the years, he received several honors for his work related to historical, cultural preservation and the arts, once receiving special recognition and commendation from Queen Elizabeth II, herself, for his “outstanding work” with the youth and community of Roseau, B.W.I. He was consulted often as a resource and counted on as a trusted friend and advisor by many of his friends, students, clergy and officials within the province of Newfoundland and Labrador - a number of whom are now prominent educators, professional and government leaders throughout the Province. In Newfoundland, Rene was administrator at St. Bonaventure’s School, St. Pius X Junior High and finished his career at St. Peter’s Junior High.
Proud of his ancestral Spanish, Mexican roots and heritage of early Southern California, he was also equally as proud to be a Newfoundlander. Rene moved to Witless Bay in 1988 and immersed himself in this community, as he did in St. John’s, volunteering his time and meeting many people who he called friends, those who looked out for him, especially in the latter years of his life. To these people, he was eternally grateful.
Rene maintained lasting friendships with many people in different parts of the world. He always reached out to them and never forgot the importance that they had in his life.
Funeral Service will be held at St. Patrick's R.C. Church, Witless Bay on Monday, March 18th, 2024 at 10:00 am.
SERVICES
Funeral Service
As a teacher, headmaster, principal, community organizer and chief archivist for the Catholic Church and the Archbishop of Newfoundland over the years, he received several honors for his work related to historical, cultural preservation and the arts, once receiving special recognition and commendation from Queen Elizabeth II, herself, for his “outstanding work” with the youth and community of Roseau, B.W.I. He was consulted often as a resource and counted on as a trusted friend and advisor by many of his friends, students, clergy and officials within the province of Newfoundland and Labrador - a number of whom are now prominent educators, professional and government leaders throughout the Province. In Newfoundland, Rene was administrator at St. Bonaventure’s School, St. Pius X Junior High and finished his career at St. Peter’s Junior High.
Proud of his ancestral Spanish, Mexican roots and heritage of early Southern California, he was also equally as proud to be a Newfoundlander. Rene moved to Witless Bay in 1988 and immersed himself in this community, as he did in St. John’s, volunteering his time and meeting many people who he called friends, those who looked out for him, especially in the latter years of his life. To these people, he was eternally grateful.
Rene maintained lasting friendships with many people in different parts of the world. He always reached out to them and never forgot the importance that they had in his life.
Funeral Service will be held at St. Patrick's R.C. Church, Witless Bay on Monday, March 18th, 2024 at 10:00 am.
SERVICES
Funeral Service
Monday, March 18, 2024
10:00 AM
St. Patrick's RC Church
The Avenue
Witless Bay,
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Services
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