Juan "Opera" Olivares

BROWNSVILLE, TX. - Juan Olivares entered into eternal rest on Thursday, the 1st of May 2025 at Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville, Texas after a valiant battle with cancer. He was 83 years of age.

Opera was born on February 13, 1942 in Matamoros, Mexico, son of the late Juan Olivares and Silvestra "Betty" Terrell. He was raised in Brownsville, Texas where he attended local schools and went on to attend Pan American College and Texas A&I University where he received his master's. A devout Catholic, Opera was an avid parishioner of St. Mary's Catholic Church and a member of The Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of the Kiwanis Amigos and Master Gardeners. His favorite pastimes included running, gardening, cooking, and watching basketball and he was a huge fan of the Dallas Cowboys.

One of his sayings to others was, "If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life." Opera was a dedicated high school counselor to countless students for many years until his retirement.

Preceding Opera in death were his parents, Juan Olivares and Silvestra "Betty" Terrell Olivares; and his siblings Rene Olivares, Rodolfo "Rudy" Olivares, Benito Olivares, Margarita "Mage" Olivares, Maria de Jesus "Chucha" Moreno, Gloria O. Lopez, and Elvia Masslock.

Survivors include his loving and devoted wife, Mary Olivares; his children, John Olivares (Michele) and Claudia Olivares; his grandson, Trey Olivares; his beloved dog, Runner; his nieces and nephews Sandra Lopez-Langley, Sylvia Lopez (Diane), Rudy Lopez (Judy), Robert Lopez (Linda), Jerry Lopez (Tammy), Martha Moreno (Hubert), Ernesto Olivares (Laura), Rosa Margarita Olivares (Jaime Castilleja); along with several other numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sister-in-laws, Rosemary Cruz and Rufina Martinez, and his brother-in-laws, Gilbert Velasquez (Alta) and Israel Martinez (Alicia).

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, the 6th of May 2025 between the hours of two o’clock in the afternoon and nine o'clock at night, with the recitation of the holy rosary to begin at seven o'clock Tuesday evening within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at twelve noon on Wednesday, the 7th of May 2025 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 1914 Barnard Road, Brownsville. Interment will then follow, via an escorted procession, at Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4464 Old Port Isabel Road, Brownsville.

Honored to serve as his pallbearers will be Trey Olivares, Israel Martinez, Gilbert Velasquez, Jr., Rudy Lopez, Robert Lopez, and Jerry Lopez. Honorary pallbearers are his Kiwanis Amigos Larry E. Garza, George Tamez, Ernesto Lopez, Juan Ochoa, Clemente Garcia, and Rolando Aguilar.

In lieu of floral arrangements and customary remembrances, contributions in memory of Juan may be directed to the St. Mary’s Works of Mercy, 1914 Barnard Road, Brownsville, Texas 78520.

Memories of Juan may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements directed by Steven R. Hieu Bailey, CFSP and Staff have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.