Felipa (Olvera) Gutierrez

Felipa Gutierrez, 76, loving and devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt and grandmother, was welcomed home by her Savior Jesus Christ on Friday April 28, 2023, at South Texas Health System Hospital, McAllen, Texas.  Born on February 5, 1947, to Pablo and Josefa Olvera, she lived in Donna all her life.  She is proceeded in death by her parents, Pablo C. Olvera, Josefa Jackson, and Cipriana Rodriguez, brothers; Juan Olvera, Frank (Eglantina) Olvera, Flavio Olvera; sisters Sara (†Manuel) Lopez, Marta (†Pablo)Cervantes, and Francisca (†Monserrat) Lejia. 

Left to cherish her memory is her devoted husband of 53  years Gregorio C. Gutierrez II, her children; Gregorio C. III (Diana) Gutierrez, Marco A. (Myrna) Gutierrez, Laura M. (Imer) de la Garza, brothers; Pablo J. Olvera of Donna, Tx., Felix Olvera of Kalamazoo, MI. and sister; Guadalupe (Sylvia) Garza of Donna, Tx., grandchildren; Gregorio C. Gutierrez IV, Alejandro D. Gutierrez, Valeria I. Gutierrez, Joaquin J. Gutierrez, Marco A. Gutierrez II, Imer M. de la Garza II, Uriah M. de la Garza, Hannah M. de la Garza and Silas M. de la Garza. 

Felipa was a graduate of Donna High School class of 1967 and McAllen Business College.  Having attended Pan American College; Felipa was a dedicated educator who worked for twenty-six years for the Donna Independent School District in the parental involvement department for most of her career.  She worked in the reading lab where she taught literacy and was the Donna High School Registrar.  Felipa advocated and pioneered the first Parental Engagement Center at the High School level which became the model center for all districts. She established the first Parental Engagement Scholarship fund for deserving high school seniors.  Felipa taught English as a second language to parents and tutored them for the civics test as a pathway to citizenship.  She engaged the community through outreach programs and was welcomed in homes throughout the Colonias of Donna and south Alamo.  Always advocating for adult education through parental involvement and migrant programs, she was a hard worker who loved her job and was a trusted friend to many.

Felipa was a devout parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church of Donna, where she and her husband served as eucharistic ministers.  A Godly woman, she taught her children to love deeply, forgive always and pray without ceasing.  Affectionately called “Nana” she loved and cared for all her grandchildren, spoiling them frequently.  She was graceful in all her dealings and will be remembered for her love of God and being a fierce prayer warrior that prayed for anyone who needed or asked for it. Felipa was an angel to all those whose lives she touched. 

The Gutierrez Family will receive friends today, May 02, 2023, from 3:00pm -9:00pm with a Rosary to be prayed at 7:00pm in the Vaughn Funeral Home Chapel, Donna, Tx.  Christian Services will be held on May 03, 2023 at 1:00pm at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and burial will follow at Donna City Cemetery.   Funeral Services have been entrusted to Vaughn Funeral Home in Donna, Texas.          

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