Olga was born in Edna, TX on January 9, 1952, to Florence Santellana Benavides and Candido Benavides, and was: the second oldest of four siblings. She met Joe V. Lopez in high school and started dating. The high school sweethearts married on June 25, 1977, and were married for 47 years until her passing. Olga and Joe were blessed with two wonderful children - Migdalia born in 1983 and Juan born in 1987. She was dedicated to lovingly bringing up her children and filling their home with joy, wherever they lived - from Virginia, Washington, and Alabama, to Tennessee and South Carolina. Wherever they lived, Olga’s primary focus was her family, both close and extended. She always shared her love and support for her parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. She loved engaging in her children’s passions and interests and staying up late at the kitchen table chatting and laughing with loved ones. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren Jorge Elias, Alejandro, and Eduardo.
From early in life, Olga was dedicated to teaching and guiding young children. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Southwest Texas State University. Later, she went on to obtain her Masters in Early Childhood Education from The University of Houston - Clear Lake and taught kindergarten children for over thirty years. She gave so much of herself to her young students and made sure her classroom was a safe place full of love. Part of her legacy lives on in all of her kinder babies. In addition to her passion for teaching, Olga was a devout Catholic and an active member of the church. She was a member of the Knights of Columbus Chapter 12327 - Ladies Auxiliary and enjoyed making plates for those attending the annual Lenten Fish Fry, after Mass Ice Cream Socials, and supporting the Knights of Columbus at their formal events.
Olga is survived by her husband, Joe V. Lopez; her children Juan Manuel Lopez (Carmen) and Migdalia Lucia Gomez (Jorge); her grandchildren Jorge Elias Gomez, Alejandro Manuel Fischer-Lopez, Eduardo Ruiz Fischer-Lopez; her sister Florence Lopez (Joe Hernandez); her brothers Candido Benavides (Theresa) and Randolph Benavides. She was preceded in death by her mother Florence Santellana and father Candido Benavides.
A rosary for Olga will be held Friday, October 27, 2023, from 11:15 AM to 12:00 PM at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, in the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel, 8715 Kuykendahl Rd, Spring, TX 77382, followed by a funeral mass from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. A Celebration of Life Reception will be held at the Knights of Columbus Event Center, 2655 FM 1488, The Woodlands, TX 77384 until 3:00PM after the funeral mass.
Private family burial will follow at Forest Park – The Woodlands Cemetery in The Woodlands, TX.
Honoring her as pallbearers will be Juan Manuel Lopez, Jorge Gomez, Candido Benavides, Adam Martinez, Joshua Adam Benavides, Paul Ray Benavides, Felix Lopez, and Brian Jeffrey Lopez.
Honorary pallbearer: Rudy Gallegos
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Olga’s former school, Houser Elementary. We will be accepting donations on Venmo, please send payments to @jmlopez with Houser Elementary in the “What’s this for?” Line.
Flowers may be sent to Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home. 18000 I-45 S, The Woodlands, TX 77384.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestparkthewoodlands.com for the Lopez family.
