Ernestina F. Oliveira

Ernestina (Tina) F. Oliveira passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on March 29, 2025 after a brief illness. Tina was a kind, loving, compassionate person who adored her family and friends who will miss her very much.

Tina was born December 11, 1930 to Eutimio Flores and Rita Zamora-Flores and grew up on El Rucio Ranch in San Manuel, Texas. She attended Brewster school and, at age 17, became the first Fiesta Queen of Saint Anne’s Catholic Church in San Manuel. After finishing school she married Israel Chavana with whom she had three daughters. She later married her second husband, Crescencio Oliveira, with whom she had a fourth daughter. His job as an assistant fire chief took them to Bermuda twice and Rota, Spain before finally settling in Edinburg, Texas and then Kingsville, Texas.

From her many travels while an Assistant Chief’s wife to her time at the Kingsville Senior Center for food, fellowship, and Bingo, Tina made friends everywhere she went. Tina’s friendships encompassed all aspects of her life and became the family of her heart. Every friendship she had was special to her.

Tina was always up for an adventure. If any of her daughter’s asked if she wanted to go on a trip she was packed and ready almost before they could finish their sentence. She loved trips to see her family who are spread out around Texas, to visit Las Vegas or Eagle Pass to play the penny slots, or vacations to Rockport or South Padre Island to enjoy the sun and surf.

In addition to traveling Tina had many interests that kept her busy and that she loved to share with others. She was very creative, making ceramics while overseas, sewing clothes for her girls, and making beautiful Christmas stockings for family and friends filling each with love. Tina also loved to sit outside and enjoy her many plants, watching the birds at her feeders, and working word puzzles to keep her mind active.

Tina is survived by her four daughters, Nilda (Baldemar) Garcia, Velma Delgado, Sylvia Culver, Marlena (David) Faulkner. She was the loving grandmother of six grandchildren, George “Ricky” Delgado, Michael Delgado and Kevin Wolfshohl, Nidia (Luke) Brassard, Bryan Garcia, Katrina (Ryan) Bennett, Karly (Charles) Riley, and great-grandmother to Nora and Noelle Brassard and Evie Bennett with one additional great-grandchild, Sonny Riley, on the way. She was preceded in death by her first husband Israel Chavana and second husband Crescencio Oliveira, her parents, brothers Arturo and Ruben Dario, and son-in-law Ricky Culver.

A visitation will be held Thursday, April 3rd, 5pm at Turcotte-Piper Mortuary, with a Rosary at 7pm, and a funeral mass on Friday, April 4th, 10am at Saint Gertrude Catholic Church. The family would like to acknowledge Haven Skilled Services for their wonderful care of Tina and Mrs. Elida Cuevas, her neighbor and friend, who always took time to check on Tina.