Delia Prado

As a young girl, Delia's life was profoundly shaped by the political turmoil of Europe. Her father, a prominent physician, lawyer, and politician, became a target during the Spanish Civil War and, under threat of persecution and death, the family was forced to leave Spain. They first sought refuge in France and as Nazi forces advanced across Europe, relocated to London, where they endured the bombing of the city during World War II. After a brief stay in England, they journeyed to Cuba as part of a wartime destroyer convoy, where they would ultimately establish a new home and begin rebuilding their lives.

In Cuba, Delia built the foundation of the life she would cherish for the next nine decades. She met Oscar Prado while in college. He had been a classmate of her brother Arturo at Ruston Academy in Havana. The two were engaged on June 6, 1953 over 73 years ago. Within days of earning her degree in Physical Chemistry from the University of Havana, she married the love of her life.

Delia and Oscar were married on July 18, 1954, beginning a remarkable partnership that would last nearly 72 years. Together they welcomed four children in Cuba before the Cuban Revolution led them to seek a new life in the United States. After brief stays in Miami, Florida, and Bristol, Tennessee, they settled in Kingsport, Tennessee, where three more children were born. The family spent a decade creating treasured memories in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains before relocating to Costa Rica in 1970, where Oscar served as General Manager of Textilera Tres Ríos, a company owned by Delia's brother, Arturo.

After six happy years in Costa Rica, highlighted by the birth of their eighth child, María Lourdes, the family moved to El Salvador to help establish another textile operation. Political instability soon made remaining there impossible, and after a year in Guatemala City, the family settled permanently in Austin, Texas, in 1980.

Throughout every move, challenge, and new beginning, Delia remained the heart of her family. She managed the complexities of raising eight children across multiple countries, schools, and households with grace, dignity, and unwavering devotion. A woman of deep Catholic faith, she worked tirelessly to ensure the children received a Catholic education and were grounded in their faith from an early age. She actively participated in school activities, fundraising efforts, charitable outreach, and service to those in need, teaching by example the importance of compassion and generosity.

In Austin, Delia created countless cherished family traditions. Sunday lunches, Easter celebrations, Christmas gatherings, and afternoons spent in Lago Vista became treasured occasions that brought generations together. As the family grew through marriages and the arrival of grandchildren, she remained a constant source of love and support. She traveled wherever she was needed, helping daughters and daughters-in-law welcome new children into the family and offering care, wisdom, and encouragement.

Delia lived a full and joyful life surrounded by those she loved. Although declining health during the last two and a half years required additional care, her spirit remained strong and her love for her family never wavered. She passed away just five weeks before what would have been her 72nd wedding anniversary with Oscar.

Delia will be remembered as a devoted wife, loving mother, cherished grandmother and great-grandmother, beloved godmother, aunt, and friend. Her strength, faith, generosity, and enduring love leave a legacy that will continue to inspire all who knew her.

She is survived by her husband, Oscar Prado, seven of her children, following the passing of her son Rafael, 24 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.

Children:

Javier & Theresa (s), Teresa & Luis Ventoza (s), Miguel & Danni (s), Joyce (Rafael's spouse), Ignacio & Lorena (s), Antonio & Lupittina (s), Francisco & Svenna (s), Maria Lourdes & Chet Krushefski (s)

Grandchildren:

(Javier & Theresa): Gabriel & Juliette (s), Irene, Adrian, Martin & Emily (s), Isabel

(Teresa & Luis): Laura & Shaefer (s), Daniel, Cristina & Trevor (s)

(Miguel & Danni): Nicolas & Lily (s), Elissa & Rick (s), Catarina & Daniel (s)

(Rafael & Joyce): Andrew, Nicole

(Ignacio & Lorena): Emmanuel, Sebastian, Santiago

(Antonio & Lupittina): Mariana

(Francisco & Svenna): Alexander, Luca

(Maria Lourdes & Chet): Carolyn, Delia, Chet, David, Mark

Great-grandchildren:

(Laura & Shaefer): Sofia

(Nicolas & Lily): Thomas, Matthew, Andrew, Emilia, Ian

(Elissa & Rick): Roman, Cora, Ava

A Rosary will be held at Saint Louis King of France Catholic Church, 7601 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757, on June 26, 2026, at 10:15 am, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 am. A reception will follow the mass at the church.

A Committal Service will take place at Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery, 14501 North IH-35, Pflugerville, TX 78660, on June 26, 2026, at 3:00 pm.