Obituary of Carmen Estaba

Mrs. Estaba died peacefully at home surrounded by immediate family. She was born on April 21, 1920, in San Fernando de Apure, Venezuela, the daughter of Biaggio Pappaterra and Angelica de Pappaterra-Rodriguez. She is survived by her younger brother Blas Pappaterra of Maracaibo, Venezuela, and sister Margot Borg of Germantown, Maryland; and her three beloved sons Alvaro, Victor Rodrigo and Lahiri and wives (Dora, Karen and Leah, respectively) and her two granddaughters Ana Carolina and Kaitlynn. Carmen was predeceased by her older brother, Humberto Pappaterra. She was interned at San Jose de Tarbes parochial school in Caracas. After marrying her lifetime companion (Dr. Victor Estaba), she devoted the rest of her life to him and raising their three boys. In 1941, she accompanied Victor to his first medical job in the Andes Mountains of Venezuela. In 1946, she joined Victor in Germany, while he served the US Army as a physician with the UNRRA, treating displaced war victims. They returned to Venezuela in 1947, after Victor did post graduate training in NY. Shortly afterwards they went back to Germany for a year in late 1947, after he was offered a higher position with the UNRRA. Upon returning to Venezuela, Carmen supported Victor?s start with his gastroenterology practice in Caracas, until he returned to the USA to do a fellowship in Gastroenterology in 1966. In August of 1966, she joined him with two of her boys in Norwalk, Connecticut, while the 3rd son served the US Army in Vietnam. Carmen loved the USA and became a naturalized citizen in 1985. She made lots of good friends in W. Va. and S. C. When Victor retired in 1987, Carmen travelled with him to Europe and then to Venezuela in 1988, one last time. In addition, to her love of family and friends, she also enjoyed reading, gardening, fine foods and listening to classical music with Victor. We will sorely miss her gentle, lovely, generous and quietly-enlightened nature that set her apart from most of humanity. A private graveside ceremony was held for family and close friends at Greenlawn Cemetery on Leesburg Road at 2:00 PM on Saturday, December 17, 2011. The same day her patriotic hero, Simon Bolivar, died in 1830. Carmen joined Self Realization Fellowship in 1956. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to: Self Realization Fellowship, 3880 San Rafael Ave, Dept. 9W, Los Angeles, CA 90065-3219 (https://online.yogananda-srf.org), which provided her much comfort and solace for over 50 years or to the charity of your choice.