Olga Flora Bush

Olga Flora Bush was received into the Kingdom of our Heavenly Father on Thursday, the 12th of January, 2017. Though her death was untimely, she is finally with her beloved husband of 65 years, Gerry. It is said that some matches are made in heaven, and surely the union of Gerald and Olga is one of these.

Olga was born on the 19th of August 1928 in Costa Rica, Central America. She was the only child of Anastasia “Lila” Hernandez and Jose Telesforo Gonzalez. Olga spent her early youth growing up on her family’s coffee plantation and cattle finca (ranch) on the verdant slopes of the Volcano Poas, from which she is said to have received her fiery personality.

At the age of nine, her family decided to immigrate to the United States and she began a new life in Los Angeles, California. Olga grew into a beautiful, outgoing young lady, always ready to meet the challenges of the day with her positive attitude and indomitable spirit. She graduated from Bishop Conaty Catholic Girls High School with her sights set on college.

In May of the same year, Olga won the coveted honor of Miss Pan-America 1946. She was presented at the annual Pan-American Grand Consular Ball at the Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles. She never intended to win as she was a “stand-in” for the original contestant who had to be rushed to the hospital with appendicitis. Olga stepped in to help her father’s dear friend, the Consulate of Argentina. With her fantastic personality, charm and great wit the outcome was inevitable. To her father’s dismay, she won!

Olga met her future husband and love of her life, Gerald, in a Portuguese class at the University of Southern California. Their love and conviction to each other blossomed, and after a two-year, chaperoned courtship, they married. Upon Gerald’s graduation with a degree in geology, they were sent to Texas for him to pursue a career in the oil industry. So starts life’s next journey in the oilfields of West Texas.

In the mid-1950s Olga and Gerald returned to California, Olga to take care of her family’s printing and packaging business and Gerald to establish a petroleum consultancy. The family begins to grow with the birth of their daughter, Denise and two years later, their son, Randall. With her strong belief in God and zest for life, Olga provided uncompromising care for her children, teaching them the importance of faith, family, friends and community. Her community involvements in California included President of Whittier Heights Women’s Club whose mission was to improve the lives of immigrant children in the La Puente area. She also participated in the first Head Start Program in California, and was instrumental in raising funds to build the first Catholic Church in Hacienda Heights. At USC, Olga along with Gerry, served on the Board of Trustees for the School of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

In 1975, after the sale of the family printing business, Olga and Gerald returned to Houston and made it their permanent home. Gerry continued in the oil industry, but Olga, always looking for a new challenge, started her own real estate company in the late 1970s in which she acquired, renovated, operated and resold a total of 160 apartments in the Houston area. Again, her strong sense of charity compelled her to contribute her time and talent to many Houston organizations: Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony, Moores School of Music, The Partnership for Baylor College of Medicine, Society for the Performing Arts (SPA), Taping for the Blind and The Brookwood Community, to name a few. Until recently, Olga was mentoring young students once a week through the Kids Hope Program.

Always trying to deepen their faith and conviction to the Lord, Olga and Gerry began searching for a new place of worship. They discovered Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church. The liturgy and music captured their souls, and Olga and Gerry became one of the founding families of the church in 1986. Olga headed the Flower Ministry for over twenty-five years. With an amazing and natural talent for creating floral arrangements, she loved doing the flowers for the Lord. Up until her death, Olga stayed as involved and active as she could in her church - it was truly her second family.

Olga left an indelible impression on all who knew her and will be sorely missed by countless friends. She was an amazing role model, gracious and elegant, honest and open and a loyal friend. We shall forever miss our beloved mother, friend, Grand Dame, Tour de Force, Glamor Girl and Queen (La Reina). Olguita, you have left a hole in our hearts but your love, enthusiasm for life and unwavering courage remain with us always. To quote her new favorite saying:

“Life Isn’t About Waiting For The Storm To Pass, It’s About Learning To Dance In The Rain.”

Olga is preceded in death by her loving husband, Gerald Bush. She is survived by her dedicated children; daughter, Denise Bush Bahr and her husband Philip A. Bahr, and son, Randall K. Bush and his wife Deborah M. Bush.

A recitation of the Holy Rosary is to commence at half-past four o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 27th of January, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, followed by a reception and visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening.

A Funeral Requiem Mass is to be offered at eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 28th of January, at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church, 7809 Shadyvilla Lane in Houston. Interment is to immediately follow in the adjacent church cemetery.

The family would be most grateful if donations are made in Olga’s memory to any of the musical arts in Houston, or to Our Lady of Walsingham Choir or Chorus Angelorum c/o The Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church, 7809 Shadyvilla Lane, Houston, TX 77055.