Olga Vargas Vela

OLGA VARGAS VELA SAN JUAN/HELOTES, TX — Olga Vargas Vela, 79, died Monday, May 25, 2015, in San Antonio, Texas surrounded by her family. Olga was born March 11, 1936 in Pharr, Texas, to Agapito and Manuela (Chapa) Vargas. In 1956 Olga graduated from PSJA High School in Pharr. She then moved to Austin, Texas where she worked as a unit clerk at Seton Hospital. Shortly thereafter in 1958, Olga married her best friend and high school sweetheart, Jose “Joe” Hector Vela. Their life journey along with a growing family took them through the likes of Kingsville, Panama, El Paso and Lubbock. Once the opportunity presented itself to return to the Rio Grande Valley in 1981, there was no turning back or stopping Olga from going home. Olga’s hobbies included traveling, garage sale and flea market bargaining, shopping with the best of them, and planting flowers and trees of all sorts. She had a masterful green thumb for gardening. Her husband Joe teased her at times that she loved her papaya trees more than him! The memories of her wit, sense of humor and silliness will always make her grandchildren and great-grandchildren giggle as if she never left them. Olga was a wonderful cook; she took pride in teaching her children and grandchildren the secrets of her specialty plates her family favored. When her grandchildren cooked for their grandma she would glow with joy and pride knowing that her techniques and recipes would live on. Olga’s staple and passion was her profound love for God and acknowledging a personal relationship with Jesus here on earth. She was the epitome of a praying mother over immediate and extended family. As a member of The Church at Bethany in Alamo for 33 years, she was involved in outreach ministries in Progreso and developing the school lunch program at The Church at Bethany. Olga’s legacy will be known as a fun, loving person and a praying warrior summoning angels of protection around her family. Olga left this life knowing that her children and grandchildren gave their lives to Jesus Christ and had no doubt that her future generations would also experience a personal relationship with their Savior. Olga is survived by her five children, Roland (Dolores) Vela, Rockie Vela, Jackie (Richard) Adame, Jeanie (Randy) Velarde and Reuben Vela; ten grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; her siblings include “Tito” Vargas, Elva Villarreal, Chayo Garza, Raquenel Palacios, Agapito Vargas, Jr., Linda Martin; numerous nieces, nephew and cousins. Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m., with a 7 p.m. prayer service today, May 28, 2015, at Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. Funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, May 29, 2015, at The Church at Bethany in Alamo. Interment will follow at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission. Pallbearers will be her grandchildren and nephew: Jeremy Vela, Michael Gonzales, Justin Adame, Nikko Velarde, James Martinez and Harry Vargas. Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan.