Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor is a Mexican media personality, the widowed wife of Vicente Fernández, the iconic Mexican singer who passed away in December 2021. Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor was born on 23rd of July 1946 and is currently 77 years old.
Villaseñor and Fernández began their relationship in the early 60s, and the singer’s busy schedule nearly scuttled it, but they later tied the knot in 1963.
The couple was married for nearly six decades, during which they welcomed four children. Fernández also rose to become a famous singer, and so the family enjoyed the life of the rich and famous. It wasn’t all bliss. Vicente Fernández was notorious for his philandering ways, but Villaseñor stuck by his side, and they remained together until his demise in December 2021.
Summary of Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s Biography
- Full name: Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor
- Nickname: Cuquita
- Gender: Female
- Date of birth: 23rd of July 1946
- Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s Age: 77 years old
- Ethnicity: Latina
- Nationality: Mexican
- Zodiac Sign: Leo
- Sexual Orientation: straight
- Religion: Christianity
- Marital Status: widowed
- Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s Husband: Vicente Fernández
- Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s Children: Vicente Jr, Alejandro, Gerardo, and Alejandra
- Siblings: Gloria Villaseñor
- Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s Height in Inches: 5 feet 7
- Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s Height in Centimetres: 165 cm
- Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s Weight: 70 kg
- Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s Net worth: $5 million
- Famous for: Vicente Fernández wife
How Old Is Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor?
Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor is presently 77 years old as she was born on the 23rd of July, 1943. Her nationality is Mexican, while her ethnicity is Latina. Villaseñor is a native of the town of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Her parents’ name is not available. The complete identities of her siblings remain a mystery. It is, however, known that she has at least two siblings.
This includes one brother who happened to be close friends with the late Vicente Fernández. She also has a sister named Gloria, from whom she adopted her daughter, Alejandra. The level of education that Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor accomplished is not immediately available, but she may have completed at least the equivalent of secondary school education.
Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor and Vicente Fernández Began Their Romance in the Early 60s and Got Married in 1963
Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor first got to know Vicente Fernández while they were neighbours living in the town of Huentitan, Jalisco. Her brother happened to be good friends with Fernández, and this brought her in close contact with him. They became good pals as well, and he eventually asked her to be his girlfriend.
She accepted, and they began dating. The early days of the couple’s relationship flourished but were hampered by Fernández’s busy schedule brought on by his music career. At a point, the singer convinced Villaseñor to find another boyfriend as he could not give her the adequate attention she deserved.
She agreed, but when he saw her attempts to move on, he knew he could not live without her. He, therefore, asked her out again. They started dating and got engaged. They later got married on the 27th of December 1963.
She Was Vicente Fernández’s Wife for Nearly Six Decades, During Which They Had Four Children
Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor was married to Vicente Fernández for 58 years. During this period, they welcomed three sons together. They also adopted a daughter as well. Villaseñor acted primarily as a homemaker, but she supported her husband through his efforts to build his career.
Those efforts were eventually rewarded when he became a global music star in the ranchera traditional music genre. He sold more than sixty million records. He also won numerous awards. As a result of this, the family’s fortunes improved tremendously.
They were elevated to celebrity status. They also lived a wealthy and comfortable life, making their home in a magnificent 1000-acre ranch, known as Los 3 Potrillos, in the town of Guadalajara.
Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor Stayed Married to Vicente Fernández despite Multiple Allegations of Infidelity
Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor and Vicente Fernández had a long-standing marriage, but it wasn’t all bliss for the lady as her husband faced multiple allegations of infidelity. Fernández was accused of having affairs with multiple Mexican actresses such as Merle Uribe and Paty Navidad.
These were not proven, but the singer boldly asserted that even though he was not a saint, he had never been caught. Such insinuates that he may have been guilty of infidelity, but Villaseñor chooses to forgive him and stay with him. Also, in January 2021, Vicente Fernández sparked controversy after placing his hands on a female fan’s breast while taking a picture with her family.
He stated that he was holding the fan’s waist, but people condemned him nonetheless. He later took to Facebook to share a loving picture of himself with Villaseñor. He thanked her once again for being the love of his life.
People were less than impressed with this and criticized the singer for all he had put his wife through. Others, however, blamed Villaseñor, surmising that she did not want to leave Fernández because of his money.
She Has Fought to Preserve her Husband’s Legacy in the Aftermath of his Death
Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor remained married to Vicente Fernández until his death on the 12th of December 2021. She and the rest of the family paid him a glowing tribute. They also organized a public catholic funeral in which fans got to pay their last respect to him.
Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor presently lives on the ranch that she and her husband called home for several decades. It has been challenging for her to move on from her husband’s death, but she is committed to protecting his legacy.
For instance, when an Argentine writer named Olga Wornat wrote an unauthorized biography about Fernández, Villaseñor expressed her displeasure at this. She condemned plans to release a TV series about her husband based on the book. She restated that her family had nothing to do with the project and that it was tantamount to theft of her late husband’s image rights.
Meet Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s Children
Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor has four children with her late husband. They include three biological sons, namely Alejandro, Gerardo, and Vicente Jr. She and her husband also adopted her niece, Alejandra, and brought her up as their daughter. All of Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s children are grown up and thriving.
Vicente Jr. was born in November 1963 and has followed in his father’s footsteps in music. He has about four studio albums to his name. He has also featured in a handful of movies and telenovelas. Villaseñor’s second child is Alejandro Fernández, who was born in April 1971.
He is also a musician and is quite successful. He performs traditional Mexican folk and pop music. He has dropped over a dozen albums and has won two Latin Grammy Awards. Villaseñor’s third child is Gerardo Fernández, who was born in 1976. He is a businessman and a realtor. He has also contested elections in Mexico.
Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s last child is Alejandra born in 1984. She is the biological daughter of her sister, Gloria, and she (Villaseñor) adopted her. Alejandra lives her life out of the spotlight but is considered a model and designer.
Who Are Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s Grandchildren?
Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor has at least 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren include Vicente, Ramon, Sissi, Fernanda, Camila, America, Alejandro Jr., Emiliano, and Valentina. Her great-grandchildren include Luca, Carlotta, Antonella, Emilio, Mia, and Cayetana.
Facts About Maria del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor, Vicente Fernández’s Wife
- Who is Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor? Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor is widely recognized as the first wife of Vicente Fernández, the late Mexican musician and actor. Her fame largely stems from her union with Vicente.
- What is Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s date and place of birth? Maria was born on 23 July 1946 in Mexico.
- What is Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s nationality and ethnicity? She is of Mexican nationality and of Latina descent.
- How did Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor meet Vicente Fernández? Maria met Vicente through her brother, who was friends with him. They grew up together in Huentitan, Jalisco, Mexico.
- When did Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor marry Vicente Fernández? Maria and Vicente got married on 27 December 1963.
- What are the names of Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s children? Maria and Vicente had four children together – Vicente Jr., Alejandro, Gerardo, and Alejandra. Alejandra is adopted, and her biological mother is Gloria Abarca, Maria’s sister.
- What do Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s children do for a living? Vicente Jr. and Alejandro followed in their father’s footsteps and ventured into the music and acting industries. Gerardo works as a realtor, is into politics and breeds thoroughbred horses. Alejandra is a model and fashion designer.
- How many grandchildren and great-grandchildren does Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor have? She has nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren as of 2022.
- What was the cause of Vicente Fernández’s death? Vicente passed away after months in the hospital following a fall at his ranch. He had also battled health problems over the years, including liver and prostate cancer.
- Where was Vicente Fernández buried? Vicente was buried in Los 3 Portillo, a family home located 20 km off the Guadalajara-Chapala highway.
- Did Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor publicly address the allegations of Vicente Fernández’s infidelity? Maria never publicly stated about the infidelity allegations against Vicente, leading many to believe she chose to deal with the matter privately.
- What is Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s marital status? Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor is a widow following the passing of her husband Vicente Fernández.
- Where did Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor grow up? Maria grew up in the town of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
- What is Maria Del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor’s religion? Maria is a Christian.
