Mamie Galvan Oliveira, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and now, our guardian angel, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on June 17, 2018 at the age of 96. Mamie dedicated her life to her family and her faith. She had a profound influence on those whose lives she graced with her presence. A nephew once said that if he had only one word to describe her it would be "elegant." She exuded elegance, grace, beauty, charm, and love.

Mamie was born into a loving and musical family on February 3, 1922, to Rafael Galvan Sr. and Virginia Reyes Galvan. During her childhood years, she played the banjo alongside her eight brothers and sisters and developed a love and passion for music.

In 1945, she would marry the love of her life Luis Oliveira, Sr. and spend what she said, were "the best 15 years of her life," in Benavides, Texas. They had a storybook marriage which included having three wonderful children Luis Oliveira, Jr. (Celina), Vickie Maldonado (Mike) and Margaret Dechant (Larry). After her husband's untimely passing in 1961, she would move with her three children back to Corpus Christi, Texas. She very gracefully took on the role of mother and father and raised her children with complete devotion as this was also her husband's last request. She taught her children to have a strong faith in God, to be devoted to family, to be strong, loyal, respectful to others, independent and caring. She expressed every day of her life that one of her greatest joys in life were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They all brought her so much pride and happiness.

She was a graduate of Corpus Christi High School and Durham Business College. She was a leader in her community serving as the PTA President while her children were in school. She was a brilliant business woman who successfully continued to run the family's ranching and business interests after the passing of her husband. She was the proud recipient of the NAACP Humanitarian Award for her dedication to freedom, justice, and equality. She worked hard and made it her life's mission to ensure that her children were highly educated.

Mamie is survived by her daughters, her son-in-laws, her daughter in law, Celina Oliveira, her eight grandchildren, Lisa Sattem (Guss), Laura Duran (Francisco), Lynda Del Valle (Chris), Michael and Luis Maldonado, Larry, Ashley and Audrey Dechant; her eight great-grandchildren, her brother, Bobby Galvan, Sr. (Alicia), and numerous nieces and nephews whom she was so proud of and adored.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Luis Oliveira, Sr. and her son, Luis Oliveira, Jr., her parents, Rafael and Virginia Galvan; her father and mother in law, Jesus and Elvira Oliveira, her sisters, Beatrice De La Vina, Rosa Martinez, Patty Prezas and Virginia Gonzalez; her brothers, Ralph, Eddie and Sammy Galvan; four nephews and four nieces.

Visitation will be held Sunday, June 24, 2018 from 5 - 9 p.m. at Guardian Funeral Home, with a Holy Rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. that evening.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, June 25, 2018 at 10 a.m. at the Corpus Christi Cathedral, 505 N Upper Broadway. Burial to follow at Rose Hill Memorial Park, 2731 Comanche St.

Pallbearers:

Larry Dechant, Sr.              Mike Maldonado, Sr.
Larry Dechant, Jr.              Michael Maldonado, Jr.
Chris DelValle                  Lito Martinez
Nick DelValle                   Roy Prezas
Francisco Duran                 Garrett Sattem
Luis Maldonado                  Guss Sattem


Michael Alaniz                  Victor Palacios
Augustin Collin                 Jared Prezas
Rudy Couling                    John A. Prezas
Edward Galvan                   John C. Prezas
Robert Galvan, Jr.              Raul Prezas
Sammy Galvan, Jr.               Edward Ramos
Arnold Gonzalez         Mark Rodriguez
Bobby Gonzalez, Sr.             Frank Ruiz, Jr.
Mike Hoeltzel                   Mario Salinas
Freddy Martinez

Mamie's family is eternally grateful to her wonderful, caring and kind caregivers.  Words cannot express how profoundly grateful they are to the outstanding and loving nurses and staff at Wooldridge Place who cared and loved Mamie as if she was one of their family members.  A special and loving thank you to our angel, Janine, from Wooldridge Place.