Narciza Estrada, 90, a longtime Ambridge resident who left Mexico as a young bride in 1956 to start a new life in Southwestern Pennsylvania, but never wavered in her religious faith, devotion to family and friends and pride in the food, music and traditions of her native Tierra Linda, passed away of natural causes on March 4th, 2025 at Heritage Valley Beaver. She was born on January 22nd, 1935 and was preceded in death by her husband, Louis Estrada. She is survived by her daughters, Rosemary (Timothy) Taddeo of Cranberry Township, Mimi Rosenblatt of Fairfax, Virginia, Marcie (Brian) Laughlin of Rockledge, Florida, two sons, Louie (Lisa) Estrada of Nashville and Rudy (Trish) Estrada of Annapolis, Maryland and nine grandchildren: Ross and Tyler, Eva, Julia and Fredy, Kas and Mina and Marley and Tobin.

Narciza was known in her social circles as Alice or Licia. She saw the world in black and white, good and evil, much like studio wrestling, of which she was a fan from the days of Bruno Sammartino. Above all, she was a devoted Roman Catholic, praying the rosary eight times a day and until her health began to decline, attended Mass regularly and walked daily.

Narciza had a biting sense of humor and faith in God, Jesus and Mary the Blessed Virgin, who braced her in the toughest of times. She was a frugal homemaker who harvested vegetables from her backyard garden and turned-out plates of delicious food in the tiny kitchen of her home, where she raised her five children. She always made sure there were extra servings of food for visitors regardless of whether they wanted to eat or not.

During her early years in Ambridge, she hosted card games for the other Mexican families in town. Her boisterous laughter sometimes fueled by an occasional Highball-rose above the Ranchero music playing on the stereo. She volunteered weekly in the cafeteria of St. Veronica’s Catholic School and sang in the church choir.

She was born and raised in Michoacán, in west-central Mexico. She made efforts to maintain her connections to her home country. She arranged months-long family vacations to Mexico and fiercely defended Mexico in political debates.

She also passionately bragged about her grandchildren which amused her children because she often left the impression that they fell short of her standards.

She seemed to live the mantra of give as good as you get. She was dealt her fair share of bad hands, but she found joy as well in long summer evening walks through Ambridge’s neighborhoods, watching her favorite shows, slot machines at casinos, singing, seeking out Spanish-speakers for random conversations, but perhaps most of all, sitting around a dinner table with family and friends.

There was no public visitation for Narciza. However, family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, March 8th at 10 a.m. in the Good Samaritan Catholic Church, 725 Glenwood Avenue, Ambridge. Interment will follow in the Good Samaritan Catholic Cemetery.