Lupe Silva

Lupe Silva, 77, passed away peacefully with her children by her side, on Thursday, November 17, 2022, in McAllen, Texas after a thirteen year battle with ovarian cancer. She lived by this simple saying from a Mother Goose rhyme: Don't let the fact that you didn't do everything you wanted to do keep you from doing what you can do.

She leaves a legacy built by a life of service to familia, which extended well beyond the boundaries of her own personal family. Lupe was a fierce advocate for the well-being and rights of women and children and held leadership positions in organizations such as Mujeres Unidas, where she served on the Board of Directors from 1994 and obtained Emeritus status in 2019. In her tenure with the organization, she established the first women's shelter and transitional housing for women and children escaping from domestic violence.

Ms. Silva was a founding member of CASA, Hidalgo Court Appointed Special Advocates. She served on the Board of Directors since 1994 and held the position of Interim Director four times. She served as board Chairperson of Mid-Valley Academy, Student Alternatives Program Inc., a charter school system serving at-risk children across Texas. Lupe served on the board of the Texas Council for Family Violence in Austin from 1994 to 2001. In the past she also served on the boards of the McAllen Housing Authority; Texas Equal Access of Justice HiFoundation/IOLTA; Texas Association Against Sexual Assault; the Texas Rural Legal Aid; and VAMOS (Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships) and board member for Abused Children of America.

Ms. Silva had the honor to serve as Advisor to the Governor's Office for Family Violence and Child Support from 1991 to 1993 under Governor Ann Richards. During the years she served the Governor, she was recognized as Volunteer of the Year. She was also a member of the Board for Austin Rape Crisis Center and Planned Parenthood Board for Hidalgo County. She did advocacy work internationally in Peru and Mexico, working with local governments to implement changes to health care laws and family planning that impacted low-income communities, and developed the first women's shelter in Monterrey, Mexico and advocated for legislative changes to protect battered women and their children.

Always one to back conviction with personal action, Lupe Silva ran for Hidalgo County District Clerk in 2002. While her own bid was unsuccessful, the experience only fueled her passion and political savvy for electing other democratic women and Latinas to political office, and she worked tirelessly for many Democratic candidates. She was beloved by her community. In June of this year Ms. Silva was awarded the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber Humanitarian Award for her years of service to her community.

Her children shared about her, “Our mother always had a song in her heart and was not shy to sing out loud.” Her favorite was to sing along with the mariachi bands and her booming tenor voice prevailed over any mariachi ensemble. She adored all eight of her grandchildren; they were the center of her life. You would often find her in the kitchen cooking up their favorite meals of enchiladas, fried chicken, salmon patties and banana muffins.

Always a fighter, Ms. Silva lived with stage 4 ovarian cancer for thirteen years, which is nothing short of a miracle. This was thanks to Ms. Silva’s amazing team of doctors at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Kathleen Schmeler and staff and Amara Hospice nurses, especially Lily Salinas our nurse and Lupita Cabral, our CNA . The family would like to especially thank her dear friends who supported trips to Houston and companionship during treatments. Thank you to Linda Yanez, Lupita Gutierrez, Blanca Casso, and Rosie Juarez for being with her at every step of her journey and staying by her bedside until the end.

Ms. Silva is preceded in death by Maria Jesusa Silva and Amador Silva, her parents. She is survived by her four children, Michelle (Todd) Kinney, Monica Silva Gutierrez (Peter Walsh), Terri Aboud, George (Jaleina) Aboud; eight adorable grandchildren; six siblings, Amador Silva Jr, Gloria Parrish, Terry Shindledecker, Juan Silva, Sally Guerrero, Susie Atwood and her former husband and father to her children, George Aboud Jr., who remained a life-long friend and always came through for her.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a 6:00 p.m. Rosary Friday, November 25, 2022, at Memorial Funeral Home, 208 E. Canton in Edinburg. Catholic Mass will take place at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, November 26, 2022, at the chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 1108 W Hackberry, McAllen. A community ceremony will be held along the Rio Grande River, with a reception to follow at the National Butterfly Center.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to honor Lupe’s legacy. You can give to CASA of Hidalgo County (casaofhidalgo.com) and/or Mujeres Unidas (mujeresunidas.org).

Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.