SGM (Ret.) Mario Estrella, 78, Ocoee, FL, surrounded by family, went peacefully to be with our Lord Heavenly Father on December 7, 2018.

Mario was born in Iquitos, Peru on October 26, 1940 to Alipio Estrella (preceded) and Elisa Soares-Braga (preceded).

Mario married his one true love, Margaret Irene Key (preceded) on October 28, 1961 in Nassau, Bahamas. They met approximately 2 years before on the docks in Nassau while he was working on the cargo ships and she and friends would watch from the docks. The first time he saw her she was in her Girl Scout uniform and they kept in touch while he went into the service. Approximately 2 years went by and Mario made it back to Nassau, went to her place of work and asked her to marry him and they have been together ever since. They had four daughters, Margaret Eliana Cooper (Estrella), Marcia Elisa Ponsell (Estrella), Maria Elena Gibbons (Estrella) and Monica Irene Estrella (preceded).

Mario has two sisters Eliana Estrella-Soares and Gaby Coronado.

Mario has two sons-in-law, Robert Cooper and Robert Gibbons.

Mario has eleven grandchildren, Rachel, Mario, Roxanne, Ryan, Devyn, Brianne, Lanea, Tessa, Chennell, Aaron, and Alexander and one great-grandchild, Scarlett, and many other family members from Nassau, Bahamas and Peru.

Mario retired as a Sergeant Major after 30 years in the U.S. Army. He served around the world, including in Korea and Vietnam and was a proud member of the 199th Infantry Brigade, the Noncommissioned Officers Association, the VFW and the American Legion.

Mario was a member of Resurrection Catholic Church in Winter Garden, Fl. where he was a member of The Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent de Paul.

Mario's favorite hobby was biking. He loved building new bikes from old bicycles and giving them to anyone who wanted one. Every year he would bike as many miles as his age that year.

Our dad, grandfather, friend, Mario Estrella, was truly the foundation of our family. In this regard he will be truly missed. He always kept his family and friends together in tough and trying times. He had the most positive attitude of anyone I know to the very end. He will be truly missed and we will always carry your memory in our hearts. We love you always and forever.

In lieu of flowers you may make a donation to a cancer charity or a veterans' charity.

The memorial mass will be held on December 13, 2018 at 10:00 am at The Resurrection Catholic Church, 1211 Winter Garden Vineland Road, Winter Garden Fl. 34787.

He will be interred along with his wife Margaret with full military honors at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 US-1, Mims, Fl. 32754 at 2:30 pm.