Dolores Maria Amaro

Dolores Maria Amaro, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, May 16, 2024. She is finally reunited with the love of her life, her husband, Felix T. Amaro, Sr.

Dolores was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico. She met her husband Felix after high school and moved to New Jersey to be closer to him after he went into the Army. Dolores and Felix were married on August 27, 1955. Over the next twenty years they had four children and they traveled to various military bases in the US and to Germany as well, until Felix retired from the Army. They retired to Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Dolores worked for many years for AFES (Armed Forces Exchange Services) and retired in 1987. During those years in Colorado Springs Dolores enjoyed working in the garden with our dad Felix, singing in the church choir, going fishing and camping, spending time with family and friends, crocheting, sewing, and playing card games. She also helped care for her grandchildren and was always available for her family and friends.

When Dolores finally retired from AFES and Felix retired from his civilian job they enjoyed traveling in their RV going to many places in the US as well as visiting family in Puerto Rico. They moved to Seattle, WA where they lived for several years before finally making their last move to Austin, TX. Dolores was very involved at St. Albert the Great Catholic church working in various ministries over the years such as; helping immigrants get settled in the Austin area, volunteering at a local nursing home playing Bingo with the residents, helping with the church production of the Boar’s Head Pageant and the Bereavement committee. She also enjoyed going to the YMCA for water aerobics with her husband and friends. She enjoyed time with her family especially for Sunday night family dinners. She enjoyed cooking and was an excellent cook, which usually meant people went back for seconds. She loved singing her favorite songs and she had a beautiful voice. And she really loved to dance. On more than one occasion she was the last person off the dance floor. In the past year we discovered how much our mom loved action movies and we saw many of them with her at the movie theatre as well as at home on the TV.

Our mom was known for her kindness, sweet personality, good sense of humor, loving care, hard work and strong faith. She will be missed more than words can ever say. Her family grieves her loss and our lives will never be the same now that both of our parents are no longer with us. Dolores was preceded in death by her loving husband, Felix of almost 51 years.

Those left to cherish her memory are her brother Esteban Benjamin Cruz Rivera and extended family of Guayama, Puerto Rico, her daughters: Judith and husband David Smith of Snohomish, WA and 5 children and families, Betty Carey of Des Moines, WA and son and family, Annie and husband David Barrera of Austin, TX, and sons and their families. Her son Felix T. Amaro, Jr. and wife Kimberly of Honolulu, Hawaii and their 3 children and family.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren: Susan and husband Rob Huffman of Wadmalaw, SC and children (Shayla, Ali, Jesse and Tony), Jessica and husband Scott White and children (Samantha, Elijah and Dyllen), Victoria and husband Tim Fleshman and children (James, Nicholas, Vincent and Franklin), Daniel Carey and wife Catherine and child (Lilith), Joseph Barrera and wife Theresa and children (William and Luca), Alexander Barrera and wife Stephanie and child (Ramona), Emily Amaro, Reece Amaro and wife Brittany, and Isabella Amaro. Great granddaughter Shayla and husband Austin Chamberlain-James and children (Harley, Remington, Willow, and Maizie).

The family would like to express their gratitude to the nursing staff and Doctors at Ascension Seton Northwest Hospital who took such good care of our mom, Dolores. They would also like to thank all their dear friends for their prayers, comfort and support.

The Visitation and Rosary will be at Cook Walden Capital Parks Funeral home located at 14501 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, TX 78660 on Thursday, May 23, 2024. The Visitation will be from 5-6pm and the Rosary will be from 6-7pm. The funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church at 12041 Bittern Hollow, Austin, TX on Friday, May 24, 2024 at 10am.

Pallbearers are David Barrera, Joseph Barrera, Alex Barrera, Daniel Carey, Tim Fleshman and Scott White.

If you’d like to make a donation in our mom’s name St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was her favorite.

Our mom Dolores was not a fan of black at funerals. She preferred bright colors and florals. She always said that funerals are a celebration of life so we should wear bright colors to remember that person’s life.