Esther Perea Gonzales

90 Year Resident of Santa Cruz County A private burial will be held in Watsonville for Esther Gonzales who passed away in Santa Cruz this past week following a lengthy illness. Born in Los Angeles, to Eulalio and Mary Perea, Esther moved to Watsonville at the age of 2 with her family, eventually settling in Freedom. Esther met Nick Brautovich in 1942 and they were married in 1943. She worked for Steinhart and Eaton Pharmacy in Watsonville with a career that spanned over 30 years. Her family and friends will always cherish the many memories of Esther’s love for music and her talents at singing and learning to play both the harmonica and piano by ear. Her family also expresses their profound gratitude to the incredible staff of Paradise Villa and to Hospice of Santa Cruz, for the loving care they provided to Esther. This beautiful woman and mother will be greatly missed. Esther is survived by her only son and daughter-in-law, Nick and Cynthia Brautovich; her four grandchildren: Eric Brautovich, Dena Brautovich, Nikia Brautovich and Erika Chacon. She was preceded in death by two husbands; Felipe Gonzales in 2006, and her first husband, Nick Brautovich in 2017. One of three siblings, she was preceded in death by her older sister Lucy Verdugo and her younger brother Eddie Perea. She will be laid to rest at Pajaro Valley Memorial Park in Watsonville. Any kind acts of charity can be made in her memory to a charity of your choice. You may visit the Benito and Azzaro homepage to share a memory or prayer with her family. Her