Ernestine Carbajal

Ernestine Carbajal, 90 of Waco, passed away Saturday, February 19, 2022 in Waco. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Thursday, February 24 at the Waco Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel, with a Rosary service at 6:15 PM. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Friday, February 25 at Waco Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel. Interment will follow at Waco Memorial Park.

Ernestine was born April 14, 1931 in Waco, Texas to Jose G. Lopez and Josephina Espinoza. She was raised by her stepmother, Lucia Lopez, after her mother passed away. She married Bennie C. Carbajal March 26, 1947 in Waco, TX.  She was a stay at home mom until the last of their seven children started school.

Ernestine worked most of her life as an upholstery seamstress for her husband, Bennie. They both worked at Smith Manufacturing, Reese Interiors, and their upholstery shop at home after work.  They opened their own upholstery shop in 1968 in Waco, Carbajal Upholstery. She worked there until her retirement in 2005.

In her retirement Ernestine enjoyed traveling to visit friends and family. She enjoyed working with ceramics, crocheting, and doll making. She continued to use her sewing skills to make throw pillows. She would give everything she made to friends and family, except her dolls. Those she kept for herself.

Ernestine was preceded in death by her husband, Bennie Carbajal, parents, Jose and Josephina Lopez, step-mother, Lucia Lopez, brothers, Conrad Lopez, Julian Lopez, Joe Lopez, Jr. and Nicholas Lopez, sister, Ninfa Mendoza, son, Bennie Carbajal, Jr., and daughter, Grace Coia.

Ernestine is survived by five children: Diana Torrez and husband, Joe of Chilton, TX, Henry Carbajal of Waco, Louise Brown and husband, Tom of Austin, TX, Richard Carbajal and wife, Antonia of Waco, and Robert Carbajal and wife, Barbara of Waco, TX, son-in-law: Edward Coia of Jacksonville, FL, 21 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren, several great-great children, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Ernestine was a strong force in her family. She will be missed.