Maria del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor, known by many as Cuquita or Doña Cuquita, is recognised as a vital and strong emblem of Mexican history and culture. For almost 60 years, Maria del Refugio was married to Vicente Fernandez, an exceptional ranchera artist. As he achieved fame, she continued to support Vicente’s career and maintain her own family life. Her life is filled with tales of love, talent in entrepreneurship, and perseverance over obstacles.
In this Article we will discuss all the details about Vicente Fernández Wife, Age, Death, And More.
Vicente Fernández Wife Biography
Vicente Fernández Wife is María del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor. There is a discrepancy in the date regarding when María del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor was born, some sources say she was born on July 23, 1946, in Guadalajara, while others state she was born on April 26, 1942, in Huentitán El Alto. María grew up in a rural environment in Mexico that emphasised family, hard work, and the support of the community as the most valued assets.
| Full Name | Maria del Refuge Abarca Villaseñor |
| Nickname | Cuquita or Doña Cuquita |
| Date of Birth | 23 July 1946 |
| Place of Birth | Guadalajara, Mexico |
| Current Residence | Jalisco, Mexico |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Ethnicity | Latina |
| Religion | Christianity |
Vicente Fernández Wife Age, Height, Weight, and Other Details
Vicente Fernández wife age is 79 years as per her birth in 1946. She stands tall at a height of 5 feet 7 inches (170cm) with a weight of around 70 kgs (154 pounds). She has blonde hair and dark brown eyes, which complement her personality at this old age.
| Age | 79 years |
| Height (in) | 5 feet 7 inches |
| Height (cm) | 170 cm |
| Weight (pounds) | 154 |
| Weight (kg) | 70 kg |
| Hair | Blonde |
| Eyes | Dark Brown |
Early Life
She spent her childhood living next door to a well-known Mexican singer named Vicente Fernández Gómez in a small town near Guadalajara called Huentitán. Her formative years were spent in an uncomplicated, meaningful manner, surrounded by family, friends, and participating in celebrations that were central to the community where she lived.
Cuquita demonstrated practicality from an early age, starting with running a household by sewing and baking. Cuquita’s interest and ability in these tasks went beyond enjoyment to illustrate the independence of Mexican women in the mid-20th century, who frequently balanced family and personal obligations. While very little is known about Cuquita’s education, her entrepreneurial success as an operator of family businesses suggests she possessed a highly developed intellect as well as considerable capability in overcoming obstacles.
Meeting Vicente and Their Marriage
Maria and Vicente were childhood neighbours in the small town of Huentitan el Alto, as they faced adolescence together, their childhood friendship evolved into a deeper emotional bond that would lead to their engagement in 1963. As they walked through the dusty streets and large ranches of their small town, they enjoyed many playful moments and quiet time together. Vicente wanted to become a famous musician and therefore moved to Guadalajara and Mexico City to pursue his goals as a musician. However, as he made progress in his music career, he could still remember how much love he had for Maria.
There were difficult times for both Maria and Vicente during this major life transition. With more attention being paid to Vicente’s music career, he spent much of his time away from home and began to be the subject of gossip about other relationships in which he may have been involved; however, Maria continued to be supportive, loyal, and committed to Vincent.
After spending time apart, when Vicente realised how deeply he loved Maria, they were engaged to be married and married on 27 December 1963, shortly following the death of Vicente’s mother from cancer, a period of time that emphasised the importance of family support.
| Marriage Date | December 27, 1963 |
| Duration | 58 years until 2021 |
| Challenges | Infidelity rumors, long absences |
| Maria’s Role | Household, business manager |
Family and Children
Vicente Fernández Jr. was the first child of Vicente and Maria, born in 1964. He was followed by Gerardo, who was born three years later, and then Alejandra in 1968, and Alejandro in 1971. All four children grew up in a family dedicated to music, as their father was a world-renowned singer.
Cuquita was devoted to her children and the family, ensuring that their living in Jalisco, Los Tres Potrillos, was a safe and loving environment while Vicente was busy establishing his music career.
There were many difficult times in their lives. As Vicente became more popular as an artist, there were also many obstacles, including gossip regarding Vicente’s infidelity to Cuquita. Cuquita was able to handle these rumours with strength and empathy, stating that “He was my husband, Vicente always returned for love.” Cuquita’s faith and love gave her the strength to forgive. Members of Mexican society respect Cuquita for being able to maintain a strong marriage during such trying times.
Cuquita performed numerous roles while Vicente was on tour for several months at a time.
While Vicente was performing for thousands of people, Cuquita was raising their children, working the ranch, and solving each day’s problems. She also made clothing for all four children and prepared meals for them, producing authentic Jalisco dishes, such as birria and tortillas. Cuquita’s support and hard work at home allowed Vicente to be successful.
| Family Member | Names |
| Husband | Vicente Fernández |
| Child | Vicente Jr. |
| Child | Gerardo |
| Child | Alejandra |
| Child | Alejandro |
Role of Doña Cuquita in Vicente Fernández Career
The assistance provided by Doña Cuquita (Vicente Fernández wife) to Vicente saw him labelled “El Rey de la Ranchera”. Many of the things Doña Cuquita did for Vicente:
1. Business Strategist & Finances
Doña Cuquita was responsible for handling all of Vicente’s money matters.
She took care of all contracts, managed Vicente’s financial affairs, and established agreements that allowed Vicente’s career to flourish and develop into a prosperous business. Doña Cuquita also managed to find financial investments through various ventures, including tequila markets and the highly successful Guadalajara Arena. Through her knowledge of money management, Doña Cuquita was able to ensure that Vicente remained financially secure and able to grow his wealth.
2. A Strong Family Support System
As Vicente was travelling all over the country and performing to thousands of fans, Doña Cuquita was at home taking care of their family.
While Doña Cuquita was running the household and raising their children, Vicente was able to devote himself fully to his craft, without worry or concern for his family’s well-being.
3. Asset documentation
Protecting the Family Wealth – Was vigilant for and against bad business deals within the Music Industry, as He honestly did everything in His Power to protect the Family and act on their behalf.
4. Image Styling
Supported him through difficult times and bad news; developed the Image of a Good Loyal Family Man through His personal charisma and presence in the Ranchera Music Industry.
In short, the role of Doña Cuquita in Vicente Fernández’s success was much larger than simply being a wife. Doña Cuquita was also a business partner, a shield for his finances, and a very important person in ensuring that he had a long-lasting legacy.
Life After Vicente Fernández’S Death
Vicente Fernández died on 12 December 2021. Doña Cuquita managed everything alone.
1. Estate Management: Doña Cuquita worked closely with her son, Alejandro Fernández, to determine how to manage inheritance disputes.
2. Daily Routine: She spends her days tending to the gardens, riding, praying the Rosary, and enjoying time with her grandchildren.
3. Positively Preserving Vicente’s Legacy: Doña Cuquita offers support to Alejandro’s music career, holds memorial events for Vicente, and prevents anyone from doing anything that could reflect poorly on Vicente.
Despite current media speculation surrounding her death, Doña Cuquita is resolute and leads a simple and purposeful existence in faith.
Is Vicente Fernández Wife Still Alive
As of 2026, María del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor, Vicente Fernández wife, is still alive and continues to live in solitude on their property, Los Tres Potrillos, located in Jalisco, Mexico. Now approaching 80 years of age, Doña Cuquita looks after business interests for the family and helps maintain his legacy. There are various internet-based claims that she has passed away; however, there is no valid evidence to support these assertions.
Recent Update on Doña Cuquita’s Love Life
Recently, a video has been getting viral in which Doña Cuquita is seen with a mystery man. People are speculating that she is dating someone now. People got really curious to know more about this sparking love story. Though there is no confirmed news about them being a couple, they have stated their relationship status as ‘friends’. At this age, dating another man after losing her husband, Cuquita will never date another man or indulge in such speculations.
Final Thoughts
Doña Cuquita has been the biggest support in Vicente Fernández’s life and has always loved him. Cuquita was a truly dedicated wife to Vicente and helped him in both his personal and professional life. She kept his family together and protected his interests through the arrangement and organisation of businesses, such as their own tequila distribution company and a Guadalajara arena. While Vicente travelled worldwide to entertain fans, Doña Cuquita ensured everything was under control so he could be successful in his endeavours. Today, Doña Cuquita continues to support her son Alejandro by helping him keep Vicente’s legacy alive after Vicente’s death in 2021. Doña Cuquita is now nearly 80 years old and lives on the family’s ranch in Jalisco; however, she and Alejandro will ensure that “El Rey” lives on in both spirit and memory. What a testament to love and strength.
