Obituary of Dr. Estela L. Peña

Dr. Estela Lujan Pesce Pena, owner of Ryan Park Dentistry, Ashburn, Virginia, passed away August 23, 2017 at her home in Ashburn, Va. She is survived by her devoted husband, Orlando Pena of Ashburn, Virginia and her loving sister, Maria Alejandra Pesce Arcos; niece, Cecelia Arcos; and nephew, Pablo Arcos, all of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Estela was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on September 8, 1953 to Alberto and Ana Paulino Pesce, of Spanish and Italian descent. Estela was a quiet child who loved to play in her back yard with her dogs and kittens. Of her seven special cats, her last one was rescued from the Loudon Co. Animal Shelter and named "Antonio Banderas, the Christmas Tree Bandit.”

In 1969, she graduated from Sagrado Corazon de Jesus Catholic High School and a few years later was admitted to the Universidad de Buenos Aires Dental school. In 1976, at age 22, she became the youngest graduate from the Dental School. She worked in the local hospital until her parents offered to help her set up her own office in their large house. She quickly became the dentist for their entire community. Estela was not only very beautiful but also very charitable. On one occasion, she treated a man who could only pay with a chicken & eggs. She lovingly accepted his meager payment and continued to treat his dental needs the rest of his life- without the chicken or eggs.  

Estela and Orlando met in NYC and on December 27, 1991 were married for time and eternity in the Washington D.C. LDS Temple. She received her Doctor of Dental Science Degree from New York University of Dental School, graduating in the top 10 of her class. She also received the recognition for being the "Best Dental Management Student" in her class at ceremonies held in the beautiful Lincoln Center of New York City.

In 2007 Estela opened her Ryan Park Dental Office where she continued treating every patient with the same respect as she had done in Argentina. She also volunteered twice a month at the free Loudoun County Dental Service and loved the opportunity to serve those who could only pay with "chicken & eggs".

It is said that there are winners and losers in the battle against cancer. Estela eventually died of her disease, but did she not lose. In life and in death, Estela was a winner who taught us how to live, how to suffer, and eventually how to die gracefully.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Wed. Aug 30, 2017 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (21015 Claiborne Parkway, Ashburn, Virginia 20148.)

A Visitation will be at 9 a.m. preceding the service.

Following the service, burial will be in Union Cemetery in Leesburg, VA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Dr. Brian Shaffer, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Bone Marrow Transplant Service. Attn: Lyndsey Boekenkamp, 885 2nd Ave, 8th floor, N.Y., N.Y. 10017.