Our beloved Mother, Lydia Oliveira Olivarez, 86, made her journey to her heavenly home peacefully on November 11, 2023, after a long illness. Although we already miss her so much, our consolation and comfort is that we are sure she had a joyous reunion in heaven with our father, baby brother, and all of our other beloved relatives and friends.
Lydia was born January 23, 1937, in Benavides, TX, where she lived all her life. She was the youngest of three children, and the only girl, so her parents and brothers treated her like the princess that she was. After graduating from Benavides High School in 1956, she went on to get her Bachelors degree in 1972 from Texas A&I University in Kingsville, and in 1976 received her Masters Degree. She touched the lives of many 7th and 8th grade students during her 35-year teaching career in Benavides and in San Diego, TX.
Lydia was a devout Catholic. She was active in the Catholic Daughters of America at Santa Rosa de Lima Church. Even when she became bedridden, she never failed to participate with that organization and with the parish. If a cake was needed for a particular activity, she made sure to send one. She was always a very good parishioner fulfilling her obligations, and was always spiritually with her sisters in Christ. Thanks to Eucharistic ministers like Frankie Ruiz, she was able to receive Holy Communion every Sunday.
Lydia became a widow at a very young age, but she, with the help of her parents, stepped up to raise her three sons with an iron hand and a soft heart. She always had a word of advice (or admonition) for her sons and grandchildren. After the death of her parents, she became the matriarch of her family, and her home became the hub for many family gatherings. She is lovingly mourned by her surviving sons, Roberto (Gloria) Olivarez, David Olivarez, and Danny (Linda) Olivarez. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Robert (Pamela) Olivarez, Leah Olivarez, John Ross ( Lorena) Olivarez, Mariza (Oscar) Olivarez, Vanessa (Benny Silvas) Carrillo, David Russell Olivarez, Melanie Cuellar ( Eli Cantu), Reyes Cuellar Jr. (Jessica Alaniz) , Noah Olivarez and Victoria Olivarez and by 15 great grandchildren.
Preceding her in death was her beloved husband, Roberto Olivarez, Sr.; her baby son, Corando Olivarez; her parents, Corando and Jesusita Oliveira; and her brothers and sisters-in-law, Horacio and Delia Oliveira, and Armando and Lela Oliveira. Also preceding her was her dear uncle, J.D. (Guero) Gutierrez, who was raised by her mother, so she considered him as a brother as well.
The pallbearers will be : Robert Olivarez III, John Ross Olivarez, Reyes Cuellar, Noah Olivarez, Joe Dan Leal, Niko Beltran, Thiago Beltran, Edgar Gonzalez and Oscar Ruiz.
Honorary: Eliverto Cantù , Jacob Olivarez, John Ross Olivarez II, Alec Gonzalez, Oscar Ruiz II, Luke Guzman, Devin Guzman, Robert Olivarez IV, Romeo Olivarez.
Visitation will be held at 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at Garza Funeral Home in San Diego, Texas with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. that evening. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 17, 2023 at Santa Rosa De Lima Catholic Church in Benavides, Texas. Interment will follow at Benavides Cemetery in Benavides, Texas.
Anyone wishing to leave condolences for the family may do so at www.garzafuneralhome.com.
Arrangements entrusted to Garza Funeral Home.
