Maria Elena Vargas Oyola

Maria Elena Vargas Oyola

Maria Elena Vargas Oyola, 72, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 20, 2026, in Lehigh Acres, Florida, surrounded by her loving children and loved ones. She was born in the Bronx, New York, on May 21, 1954, to Juan Vargas Ojeda and Carmen Maria Oyola, both now deceased.

Maria was blessed to grow up in a home filled with love, family, and faith. She remained especially close to her siblings throughout her life, sharing a deep and enduring bond with her sister, Maria Ortiz, and her brothers, Raul Vargas and Ramon Vargas.

Her relationship with her sister Maria was especially precious. They were not only sisters, but lifelong companions and sources of strength for one another. Their shared faith in Jesus Christ was at the heart of their bond. Maria Ortiz is a woman of God whose steadfast faith encouraged and strengthened her sister, just as Maria strengthened her in return. They prayed for one another, encouraged one another, and reminded each other of the hope they had in the Lord. Their relationship reflected the deep love that had always existed within their family.

Maria’s brothers, Raul and Ramon, both preceded her in death. She loved them deeply and carried their memory with her throughout her life.

Maria’s greatest earthly blessing was her children. She loved her five children with her whole heart and devoted her life to raising them as a single mother. Each of her children shared a unique and special relationship with her, and she had a way of bringing light, comfort, laughter, and love into each of their lives in their own individual way. She knew her children for who they were, loved them for exactly who they were, and made each one feel that they had a special place in her heart.

She never wanted any of her children to feel that they were loved less than another. Especially with her daughters, she would often remind them, “I don’t have favorites. I love you all the same.” She meant it. Maria loved each of her children completely and unconditionally, and they each knew, in their own way, that they were deeply loved by their mother.

That love continued into the next generation as she helped raise her grandchildren and poured the same affection into them. Her family was her greatest joy, and being their mother and grandmother was one of the greatest parts of her life.

Her love extended far beyond her immediate family. Maria opened her home to countless children and others who needed a place to stay, often giving from what little she had. Many of those children eventually called her “Mami,” because she loved them as her own. Her door was always open, and she had a way of making people feel that they belonged.

Above all, Maria loved and trusted Jesus. Her faith was the foundation of her life. She believed wholeheartedly that salvation comes through Him alone and looked to Christ for strength and guidance throughout every season of her life.

As a young woman, Maria served as a chaplain, bringing the Word of God into prisons and sharing the Gospel with those who needed to hear it. She continued serving others throughout her life, whether through her family, her church, or her community. She attended several churches over the years and most recently attended Highland Baptist Church in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania, before moving to Florida.

In 2026, Maria relocated to Lehigh Acres, Florida, to be closer to her children living in Florida. She spent the final chapter of her life surrounded by family.

Her children will miss their mother more than words can express. They will miss her voice, her laughter, her stories, her prayers, her generosity, and the unique ways she brought light into each of their lives. They will miss simply knowing that she was there—their mother, their Mami, and someone who loved them completely.

Though the grief of losing her is deep, her family finds comfort in the hope she held throughout her life: the promise of eternal life through Jesus. She is no longer suffering or burdened by the trials of this world. She is with the Savior she loved and faithfully served.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” — Philippians 1:21

For Maria, these words were more than Scripture—they were the hope by which she lived and the hope with which her family now says goodbye.

Her family will honor her memory by continuing to love one another, care for those in need, keep their doors open, and most importantly, place their hope and trust in Christ.

Maria was deeply loved, and she will be profoundly missed. But because of the hope she had in Jesus, her family knows that this goodbye is not forever.

Until we meet again in the presence of our Lord, Mami.

A Gathering in Her Memory

Those who loved Maria are invited to gather together on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 12:00 PM at Calvary Garden at Fort Myers Cemetery, near Michigan Avenue and Henderson Avenue in Fort Myers, Florida.

Cemetery Office: 3200 Michigan Avenue Fort Myers, FL 33916

Family and friends will gather to remember Maria, share in the love she gave so freely, and give thanks to God for her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Juan Vargas Ojeda and Carmen Maria Oyola, and her brothers, Raul Vargas and Ramon Vargas.

She is survived by her loving children, Adalberto Rodriquez of Naples, FL; Marilee Romero (Ali Muhammad) of North Fort Myers, FL; Lleselia Romero (Jonathan Mercado) of Lehigh Acres, FL; Glendalee Romero (Pedro Velez) of Coatesville, PA; and Alcides Romero (Kerry Romero) of Cape Coral, FL; her beloved sister, Maria Ortiz (Robert Ortiz) of Coatesville, PA; and her ten grandchildren, Nathaniel Rodriquez, Adriel Rodriquez, Yisabella Romero, Amina Muhammad, Ahnali Muhammad, Scarlett Mercado, Levi Romero, Juliette Mercado, Theo Velez, and Angelina Romero.

Mullins & Curtis Affordable Funerals and Cremations, Fort Myers, is entrusted with her final care.