Lydia Estela Oliveira Canales

Benavides, Texas - Lydia Estela Oliveira Canales, a lifelong resident of Benavides, Texas, passed away peacefully at the age of 96 at her home on April 7, 2025, leaving a void her family cannot fill. She was born in Benavides, Texas on February 19, 1929, to Crescencio Oliveira and Velia Garcia Oliveira. She was the second child of seven siblings. Lydia was a devoted mother to her three children, and Mary Alice Palomino, Lille Annell Canales, F.H. “Tocho” (Tammy) Canales, Jr., and Juan Antonio Canales (all residents of Benavides, Texas). Her three grandchildren F. H. “Trey” Canales III (San Antonio, Texas), Robert (Virginia) Canales (Los Angeles, California), and Reese (Casey) Canales (Washington, D.C.), were the pride and joy of their Nana.

Lydia took special joy in cooking for her family and planning special celebrations, making turcos, depression candy, dulce de frijol, divinity, and other treats throughout the years for immediate and extended family members. She was an avid reader and enjoyed creating a variety of arts and crafts. From designing personalized floral arrangements for any occasion to decorating for her favorite holiday, Christmas, and the ever-popular family Easter Egg Hunt, she was in her element and looked forward to every festivity with the same excitement and anticipation always. She loved her family equally, no matter which side they came from. She provided a haven or a refuge whenever any of them may have needed one. Whether it was a nephew sneaking a turco as he went to school, or the Easter egg fights, Christmas Eve menudo and tamales, or the camping trips to Garner State Park, she loved being with her family immensely.  She felt a profound love for her brothers and sisters that had no boundaries.  Her nieces and nephews, each one of whom she loved and was so proud of, brought smiles to her face when she heard from them. She kept in touch with her cousins, who she had many of, each of them meant so much to her, to the end.  And in later years, her outings for lunch with her friends and keeping active were what she enjoyed the most.

Her love for genealogy was endless, and her knowledge of family history was impressive. Her impulse was to help tell the story and to bring truth forward. If you accompanied her to the grocery store, that was an all-day event because everyone stopped to chat with her. She never met a stranger. And after 96 years, she was a friend to many.

She served in the following organizations:
PTA Room Mother for her three children for 29 years
Altar and Rosary Society
Catholic Daughters
Girl Scout Leader
1st Quad County President of Hispanic Descent
Lifelong Democrat
School Board Member
American Legion Auxiliary President 
Duval County Pct 2 Election Judge
Duval County Historical Commission Chairman 25 yrs
Hand-Crafted Christmas Ornament Exchange Club 

Lydia was preceded in death by the love of her life (after 54 years of marriage), F.H. (Tocho) Canales Sr., her parents, Crescencio Oliveira and Velia Garcia Oliveira, her sister, Vellita (Verlon) Oliveira Bridges, her brothers, Crescencio Oliveira and Celso Oliveira, brothers-in-law, Verlon Bridges and Wayne Pendleton, Liborio (Estela) Canales, Albino (Adriana) Canales, sister-in-law, Tina (Crescencio) Oliveira, Alicia Canales (Octavio) Carrillo, Lille Canales (Angel) Saenz, nieces Margot Isabel Mendez and Rosalinda Oliveira, Maria Alicia (Ezequiel) Garcia, nephew Liborio Canales Jr.

Survived by her sisters, Elda (Roel) Oliveira Mendez and Bertha Oliveira Pendleton, numerous nieces and nephews who adored her and will never forget the love and treasured memories she brought to their lives.

We would like to especially thank her caregiver, Kim Pendleton, for her dedication to our mother over the past nine months, to all those at NSCL Home Health, NSCL Provider Services, and Del Cielo Hospice Services.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at Mauro P. Garcia Funeral Home in San Diego, Texas, followed by a Rosary at 10:00 a.m. Funeral Service will be held at the Santa Rosa De Lima Catholic Church in Benavides, Texas, at 11:30 a.m.  Burial to follow at The Benavides Cemetery in Benavides, Texas.
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Mauro P. Garcia Funeral Homes, Inc. entrusted with arrangements.