Esther Darlene Taitano

Esther Darlene Taitano, 59, of Las Vegas, Nevada has returned home to Heaven on September 27th, 2021. Esther, better known as "ET" or "Es" to family and friends, was born on the beautiful day of March 30th, 1962 in Tamuning, Guam to her beloved parents, Jose Guerrero Taitano and Maria Quinata Taitano. Esther came to the US at the young age of fourteen with her loving mother and her many siblings. The family settled in Northern California, and she described that time as when her family started dreaming big. She graduated from De Anza High School in 1980 and went on to obtain an AA Degree in Business at Contra Costa Community College. Esther spent 20 years specializing in budget analysis for the Federal Government and specifically with the National Park Forrest Service alongside her sisters, Lila and Natividad (Dottie). Esther was very close with her siblings, especially her sisters, and remained so throughout her life. Esther was a woman of many talents and hobbies. One of them being that Esther was an avid writer. Often keeping her siblings, nieces, nephews, and friends entertained with descriptive and long letters about how life was going not only for her but for the entire family. In doing so she kept the family connected through her words. In a family of 15 sisters and brothers, along with their children, and their children's children you can imagine how difficult that may be to keep up with everyone, but Esther made sure to always reach out to her family with her uplifting letters or her special "Joke of The Day" she would send to her nieces and sisters, always making them laugh and smile. Esther had a special place in her heart for her nieces and nephews and treated them as if they were her own children. She would always spoil and shower them with gifts, food, and love and made a point to remember every single family member's birthday and would often customize graphics and write special letters to each family member on their special day. Esther was a great self-taught chef. She loved baking and experimenting new recipes with her family always benefiting from the tasty outcome of these experiments. Some of her favorite types of food to cook and bake were Chamorro and Vegetarian food and desserts. Esther loved and appreciated her Chamorro culture and often encouraged and taught her nieces about it. She referred to her nieces as "Chamorritas". Esther was a second mom to many of her sibling's children. Esther loved celebrations and thought of life as a precious gift to never be wasted. Esther was a uterine cancer survivor and overcame it with a smile on her face and always maintained a positive outlook on life. In more recent years of her life, she became a caretaker for her sister, Terry, and relocated back home to Guam to do so. Esther and Terry would visit the family in Las Vegas every summer and were able to do that this year. Esther was surrounded by the love and support that she had always shared with her family from the very beginning. Although her time on Earth has ended way too soon, she lives on through her words, her recipes, countless memories, and celebrations, and forever in the hearts of the family and friends she left behind. She is survived by her siblings: Teresita M. Taitano, Lourdes T. Leon Guerrero, Helen R. Tyson, Joseph Q. Taitano, David J. Taitano, and Lina T. Sonico. Her nieces and nephews: Jordan E. Taitano ?, Jonathan T. Santos, Arnell C. Leon Guerrero, Joel N. Taitano, Robyn L. Leon Guerrero, Jade M. Taitano, Matthew J. Taitano ?, Dana M. Taitano, Heather J. Tyson, Jake R. Taitano, Samantha J. Taitano, Christopher J. Taitano, Jazmyne M. Taitano, Montana S. Taitano, Marleena L. Sonico, Jacqueline V. Dutt, Julius T. Dutt, Mylani F. Sonico She is also survived by many great-nieces and nephews: King Leon Guerrero, Christian T. Leon Guerrero, Joseph Arriola, Angelyse Taitano, Kepuha Leon Guerrero, Trinity Taitano, Kaylani Arriola, Joshiah Santos, Alejandra Taitano, Elijah Santos, Keola Leon Guerrero, Ayla Taitano, Addison Pascal, Maia Quitugua She is predeceased by her grandmother, Felicita Quinata Sablan, her four sisters, Margarita Q. Taitano, Fermina Taitano, Anisia T. Santos, Katherine R. Taitano. Most recently her sisters passed Natividad M. Taitano, Norma J. Taitano, Lila C. Taitano, and Melissa M. Taitano. She is also predeceased by her brother-in-laws Avelino D. Santos and Arthur Leon-Guerrero.

Esther Darlene Taitano

March 30, 1962 - September 27, 2021