Magdalena O. Reyes Obituary (1930 - 2024)

Our beloved Magdalena O. Reyes, age 93, resident of San Marcos, Texas was called by our Heavenly Father on Monday, January 8, 2024. Maria Magdalena Olvera Reyes was born on Sunday, May 18,1930 in a small cabin on the banks of the Blanco River at the Nance Ranch in Kyle, Texas. Her parents were Santiago Gutierrez Olvera and Francisca Morales Olvera and she was the youngest of their 13 children. She was the last surviving descendent of her family of origin. Magdalena spent her childhood at the Nance Ranch where her father and brothers were farm hands and cattle workers. Her father migrated to work at the ranch before 1900 with his uncle Luis Gutierrez and eventually Magdalena's mother and older siblings joined him. Eventually, the rest of the Olvera children, including Magdalena, were born. The Blanco River and the pecan orchards that lined the river were her playground. In 1942, when Magdalena turned 12 years old, the family moved to the Olvera home, located on Schlemmer Street in Kyle. From the pecan trees near the Blanco, the family was able to bring and plant saplings and some of those trees still stand tall there today. The Olvera family were migrant farm workers and they traveled through the coastal plains of Texas picking cotton and to Minnesota for work in the sugar beet fields. Wherever they went, the church was an especially important part of Magdalena's life. She was able to attend different churches and met many priests and nuns throughout her travels; however, St. Anthony Marie de Claret, previously known as St. Joseph, was her church home. Magdalena was musically inclined. As a young woman she joined her brothers Natividad and Elias in a group where they performed at a theater in San Marcos. She was a member of the church choir at the former St. Anthony and loved to sing when an opportunity presented itself. For her entire life, she loved mariachi music, and she gave us her last performance last May when she sang with a mariachi group for her birthday. Magdalena's involvement with the church began at birth. Her mother Francisca was a devout Catholic and made sure all her children were brought up in the faith. Hays County birth records show that Magdalena's name may have originally been Dominga for the Lord's Day on which she was born. However, her baptism records show her as Maria Magdalena, as do amended birth certificate records. As a young woman, Magdalena belonged to the Hijas de Maria and began teaching religious education classes. After marrying, she became a Guadalupana. She remained a member of Las Guadalupanas and held different officer positions. In 2016, the Guadalupanas presented her with a certificate for being a member for 62 years and she continued for a few more years after that until she was no longer able to participate. Additionally, she was a Eucharistic Minister and continued her religious education teaching at both St. Anthony and St. John the Evangelist Church in San Marcos. She shared her faith with countless first graders and many more children and adults through her sponsorship at baptisms, first communions, confirmations, and weddings. She was also known for running La Manita booth year after year at the annual church fiesta. Magdalena married Bernardino Reyes, Sr. in 1955 at St. Joseph in Kyle. Together they had five children, Rosemary, Evaristo, Martha, Helen, and Bernie, Jr. She was a devoted wife and mother. She made sure her children knew their prayers and they always prayed the Guardian Angel prayer with her before they left for school each day. Her blessing as they left gave extra protection as they ventured out. As her children grew, they loved to return home for her delicious home-cooked meals and for the desserts that were sure to be on the kitchen table. The family grew with the addition of son-in-law Mario Garza and daughter-in-law Gloria Reyes and her grandchildren, Marisela Reyes Santos (Nelson Santos), Jason Munoz (Claudia Cantu), Mari Garza, Allen Garza, Veronica Reyes (Justin Recio), Joshua Munoz (Stephanie Munoz), Matthew Garza (Meagan Garza), Jade Munoz Yock (Benjamin Yock), Laura Reyes Castillo-Buenrostro (Eric Castillo-Buenrostro), Quentin Salinas, and Jarek Salinas. Magdalena had great-grandchildren Noah Jorpeland, Nicholas Santos, Nadia Santos, Nayeli Santos, Sarai Munoz, Emma Yock, Sylas Munoz, Watson Yock, Alexandria Garza, Violet Gamez, Stacia Munoz, Santiago Recio, Camila Recio, Scarlet Gamez, and Ellie Garza. As Bernardino, Sr. was fond of saying -- "De dos se hicieron muchos." (From the two became many.) In recent years, though her memory began to fade, she never forgot her prayers, her rosary, nor her hymns. These memories were strong in her mind and brought the family great comfort. Magdalena left her family and friends with many beautiful memories. Her love and her faith will always be our guide. And in our hearts, we can now say to her: "Angel of God my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen." And we are certain she will be right there to keep us safe. Magdalena is preceded in death by her loving husband of 59yrs.: Bernardino Reyes Sr.; parents: Santiago & Francisca Olvera; brothers: Elias Olvera Sr., Andres Olvera, Jesus Olvera, Santiago Olvera Jr. and Natividad Olvera Sr.; sisters: Juana O. Vela, Carlota Garza, Maria O. Arredondo, Angelita Olvera, Asencion Olvera, Guadalupe Olvera and Josefina I. Gonzales. She is survived by her sons: Evaristo Reyes and wife Gloria and Bernardino Reyes Jr.; daughters: Rosemary Reyes Garza and husband Mario, Martha Reyes-Munoz and Helen Reyes; grandchildren: 11; great grandchildren: 15; and with numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 17, 2024 with Recitation of Holy Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m., at Los Angeles Funeral Home ... 300 Cheatham St. ... San Marcos, Texas. ...Morning visitation will begin at 8:00am Thursday, January 18, 2024 at Los Angeles Funeral Home followed with Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 10:00 at St. Anthony Marie de Claret Catholic Church ... 801 Burleson St. ... Kyle, Texas. father Fernando Ricaud will officiate. Interment will follow at San Juan Cemetery in Reedville, Texas. Serving as Pallbearers: Jason Munoz, Joshua Munoz, Allen Garza, Matthew Garza, Quintin Salinas and Jarek Salinas.