Maria Guadalupe Vela

Maria Guadalupe (Olivarez) Vela, age 77, was called home to be with our Lord suddenly and too soon on December 8, 2024. She was born July 19, 1947, the youngest of three children, to Manuel and Regina (Cortez) Olivarez in Kingsville, Texas. She was a beautiful, devoted, loving and selfless mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, cousin and friend.

She graduated from H. M. King High School, was married to Antonio Vela Sr. for 10 years and raised five children. She then made us all proud by attending college and earning a nursing degree later in life and loved taking care of her patients for many years. After retiring, she enjoyed cooking, playing Animal Crossing, sharing pictures and keeping up with loved ones on Facebook and spending time with family. Her primary residence was in Bishop, Texas, but took turns throughout the year to live with all her kids.

She is preceded in death by parents Manuel and Regina Olivarez, sister Teresa (Olivarez) Gutierrez and brother-in-law Francisco Gutierrez Sr., sister-in-law Amelia Olivarez and son-in-law Marcus Hinojosa.

She is survived by brother Juan Manuel “Sammy” Olivarez Sr., daughter Esther Vela, son Antonio Vela Jr., son Ruben with his wife Raquel (Garza) Vela, daughter Anna (Vela) Odom with her husband Scott Odom, daughter Christine (Vela) Silguero with her husband Wally Silguero; grandchildren Regina, Elizabeth, Ruben Jr., Anthony “AJ”, Cade, Ryan, Sabrina, Maya and Sammy; 6 great-grandchildren, many dear nieces and nephews, friends and extended family.

Mama Moomy Mamasan Granma Lewita we have loved you all of our lives and we will continue to remember and love you for the rest of our lives. We will keep in our hearts your grace, dignity and strength, your smile, laugh and hugs; your love and care and giving heart. We’ll miss you always.

The family will receive condolences from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at Turcotte-Piper Mortuary; with a holy rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m., with a mass of christian burial to be celebrated at St. Martin's Catholic Church on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. A rite of committal and interment will follow at Chamberlain Cemetery in Kingsville, Texas.