Esther Gardelin already carried a very special meaning in her name: Stella = Star. 

The star is the symbol of truth, of the spirit and of hope. It is the light that guides through the darkness, that points the way before the unknown. And Esther played this role throughout her whole life, for everyone who knew her. 

Not only as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, but because she carried within herself an incredible capacity for resilience. Esther did not have an easy life. But with each challenge, she knew there was no other alternative than to keep moving forward. 

Esther's father passed away when she was just one year old, and the girl had to be separated from her siblings. She left Ana Rech, RS, and went to live with her aunt and uncle, whom she would later call ‘mom and dad’, in Vacaria, RS. She would only be reunited with her mother and siblings many years later. 

In Vacaria, she met Darcy, whom she married at the age of 16 and with whom she had seven children. For them, she played the role of mother and also of father, after the separation. To support the family, in one of the most challenging periods of her journey, she began to work outside the home. With her salary, she even managed to buy a television set in the 1960s, when the family settled in Caxias do Sul, RS. Here, each of the children found their way, always with Esther's unconditional love and support. 

Being a mother was the most important role of her life. So much so that she was elected Mother of the Year in 1990, at the Mothers' Club of the Santos Anjos Church. But the true gift came from her children, who gave her 14 grandchildren. Later, 7 great-grandchildren also came along. And this family does not stop growing! It could not be otherwise, when the roots are so strong. 

The universe rewarded Esther for all the challenges she went through. Not that life became easier, but little by little, everything fell into place — with a lot of work, persistence and courage. Esther did not like to show her vulnerability and, rarely, in the 90 years she lived, was she seen crying. Faith was crucial for her to overcome perhaps the greatest challenge of all, in 2010, when she survived cancer. 

Until the last days of her life, Esther made a point of keeping up her daily habits: praying the rosary, crocheting and cooking. She was especially famous for her unbeatable couscous.

For her children, grandchildren and friends remain many recipes and stories, along with the image of Esther's smile, always ready to put her motto into practice: “do good, no matter to whom”. 

Esther said goodbye to this plane and officially became what she had been destined to be throughout her long life: a star.

Text: Valquíria Vita, Legado Histórias de Vida 

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