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Abraham Isaac Quintanilla Jr., Selena Quintanilla‘s dad, died at the age of 86 in December 2025. The heartbreaking news came just over 30 years after his late daughter’s murder and weeks after the Quintanilla family released its doc Selena y Los Dinos in celebration of the “Como la flor” artist’s life.
“It’s with a heavy heart to let you guys know that my Dad passed away today…” Abraham’s son A.B. Quintanilla III announced via Instagram on December 13, 2025.
Abraham is remembered for playing a central role in shaping his late daughter’s music career. In a follow-up statement shared by the Quintanilla family on Instagram on December 14, the family described him as a devoted husband, father, and the patriarch of the Quintanilla family, highlighting his faith, discipline, and lifelong dedication to his children and to honoring Selena’s legacy. He raised Selena, A.B., and Suzette Quintanilla as musicians and formed their family band, Selena y Los Dinos, in the 1980s. By the early 1990s, Selena rose to fame as the Queen of Tejano Music before she was fatally shot by Yolanda Saldívar in March 1995 at the age of 23 .
Here is everything we know so far about the devastating news of Abraham’s death.
How Did Selena’s Father Die? Abraham Quintanilla’s Cause of Death
At the time of publication, Abraham’s cause of death is still unclear. His son A.B. did not disclose any other details in his primary announcement on December 13.
TMZ reported that the Nueces County Medical Examiner was notified about it on December 13 and did not accept jurisdiction, which means that there is no investigation nor any suspicion of trauma or foul play, per the outlet. His body was released to a funeral home, according to TMZ.
Did Abraham Quintanilla Have Health Issues?
Abraham did not make any health issues known to the public. It’s unclear if he was suffering from anything during his final days.
Who Is Abraham Quintanilla’s Wife? About Selena’s Mom
Abraham was married to his wife, Marcella Ofelia Samora, for the rest of his life. They wed in 1963 and stayed together until his death in December 2025.
How Many Kids Did Abraham Quintanilla Have?
In addition to Selena, Abraham and Marcella shared their other children, A.B. and Suzette, who performed with Selena in the early days of Selena y Los Dinos.
A.B. shared a follow-up Instagram post to his late father’s death, paying tribute to both Abraham and Selena.
“Losing SELENA 30 yrs. ago is still a daily struggle for me…But losing my Dad hits differently,” A.B. wrote in his caption. “I felt safe knowing his love and guidance was always available when I needed it most and now I won’t be able to have that anymore…He was a tough cookie but in this business you have to be!!! He taught ‘SELENA; and I that from the get go…Today I feel my heart is shattered in a million pieces…I feel so sorry for my Mom who has to live with the pain of losing her baby and her husband…Life is so unfair…Today is my BDay and and now for the rest of my life will mark something tragic that happened today…Losing my father.”