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ESTELA MARTINS RIGAU RILEE

Estela Martins Rigau Rilee, 92, of Clay Bank, died at the Gloucester House on November 21, 2018. She was born on June 24, 1926 in Criacao Velha (Vineyards), Pico, Azores, Portugal. Estela graduated from Saint Antonio Catholic School in Horta, Faial, Azores. She arrived in the USA in 1947 at age 21 with her husband Felix Rosa Rigau. Mr. Rigau was a native of Puerto Rico and had been a resident of Gloucester County since December 1918. Estela first met her husband in 1946 in Horta, Faial. Mr. Rigau was serving as the Chief Engineer aboard an ocean-going tug with the U.S. Army Transport Service. Faial was a port of call en route to Antwerp, Belgium. Estela dreamed of coming to America and Mr. Rigau made her an offer she could not refuse. She became a U.S. citizen on May 10, 1950. She learned English attending Botetourt High School at night. She helped with her husband’s business, Rigau Concrete Works. She loved going to Haven Beach in Mathews to shovel sand for the concrete mix. The wide-open vista of the Chesapeake Bay brought back fond memories of Pico and the people she had left behind. Mr. Rigau and Estela would have three children together, Felix Rosa Rigau, Jr. (Cynde); Felipe Alberto Rigau, M.D., M.B.A.; Maria Fatima Harris Connor (Rick). At the time of Mr. Rigau’s death in 1954, Estela was left with three small children (one only 18 months old) to raise. Fortunately, Mr. Rigau had invested wisely in the NYSE and along with his Social Security, Estela was able to make ends meet. Her best friend, Virginia Tribby, would at times provide “bridging loans” until the quarterly dividends arrived. Estela always paid the loans back in full along with interest in the form of home-cooked lunches which Virginia loved. During this time, Willie Broaddus would encourage Estela not to sell her securities, no matter what. He himself offered to lend money but Estela did not accept. Estela had tremendous respect for Mr. Broaddus and would turn to him for advice regarding many issues. Years later, Estela would marry Edward Wellington Rilee. They would have a daughter named Sylvia Frances Rilee (Joel Gorelick). At the time of Wellington’s death, they were living in Clay Bank on Weaver Lane. Estela would spend many more years enjoying the peace and beauty of Clay Bank. She loved walking “the roads” with her faithful companion, Midas, a Golden Retriever. He was truly her “soulmate!” During their walks, she loved to stop at the home of Alice Walker and chat outside on the doorstep. Estela always addressed Alice as Mrs. Walker, demonstrating her admiration and respect. In closing, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of the “unsung heroes” at the Gloucester House. Estela was very perceptive and discovered many loving, authentic caregivers at Gloucester House that she considered to be her friends. A special thanks to Dr. Ron Haggerty, Cori Woods, R.N., and Dawn Myers at Direct Access Internal Medicine for their compassionate and personal care. It was truly a privilege having my mother be a member of your practice! Thank you to Lori Mattis, R.N., of Riverside Hospice for overseeing my mother’s final care plan. Special thanks to Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home, Mathews, Virginia, for their professional services and for accommodating my special requests. Thanks to Helene Raymond of Windsor Gardens Cemetery for helping me make the funeral arrangements. Finally, I want to thank Father James Cowles of The Church of Saint Therese for coming to the Gloucester House at the time of my mother’s death and reading from the Prayer Book. Your holy presence helped ease my pain and blessed my mother’s soul. Revelation 21:4.