Maria Estela Oviedo

Maria “Estela” Oviedo peacefully passed away in the early morning of September 11, 2024, in her home in San Benito, Texas, at the age of 84. She was born in San Benito on November 27, 1939, to the late Salome Martinez Sr. and Librada Martinez (Sanchez). 

She graduated from San Benito High School in 1958 and was proud of her academic achievements, including her National Honor Society identification card signed by principal Jim Barnes. Her love of education continued as she pursued a degree in sociology from her beloved alma mater, Texas Women’s University, which she completed in three years and graduated in 1961.

She returned to San Benito, where she instructed students at the elementary level for over 30 years, with the majority of her time leading her second-grade classroom at Sullivan Elementary. Former students and colleagues often stopped her after she retired from San Benito CISD while shopping or cheering on the mighty Greyhounds football team at the old Greyhound Stadium off of Bonham, thankful and appreciative of her patience, encouragement, and support as a teacher and mentor.

She loved to host family activities and holidays at her home and to spend time with her husband, close friends Joe and Lourdes "Lulu" Chapa (who have since passed), as well as her fellow teachers and educators from San Benito and Harlingen CISDs. She loved her nieces, nephews, and godchildren and treated each as her own. She enjoyed being with her husband in the yard, driving around, or camping throughout the entire State of Texas and Colorado. Stela enjoyed the pageantry of RGV football and would follow Valley teams throughout their playoff runs during the 80s and 90s while listening to Hugo, "Mr. NiFuNiFa,” on KGBT radio. This love for football went beyond the Valley, including her love and full support of the Maroon & White Fightin’ Texas Aggies and her beloved Dallas Cowboys. 

She was blessed to have had the opportunity to travel to many places throughout the United States and Europe, including the Vatican, where she purchased a souvenir here and there. Later, she was surrounded by a house full of decorations, trinkets, and reminders of unforgettable memories and places she visited with her husband and friends. 

Estela was called by her savior, Jesus Christ, on September 11, 2024, to ensure that she would be able to spend her 64th Wedding Anniversary, September 12, 2024, with the Love of her Life, Federico Oviedo (who passed away on August 3, 2019). They met after she accidentally hit his car in the high school parking lot after returning to lunch with friends. Their friendship and care for each other blossomed after his commitment to the armed services, and they got married and enjoyed life in the beauty and warmth of the Rio Grande Valley. Her nurturing care as a teacher translated to her being a caregiver to her mother and later her husband, whom she watched, talked, shared, and cared for during his last years. She and Federico were dedicated parishioners of St. Theresa and St. Benedict’s Catholic Churches in San Benito. 

She is preceded in death by her loving parents, Salome and Librada Martinez, husband-Federico Oviedo, sister and brother-in-Law- Consuelo and Jose Angel Torres, sister and brother-in-Law- Dora and Roberto Lopez, brother and sister-in-Law- Roberto & Ada Martinez, sister-in-Law- Guadalupe “Lupita” Martinez, and brother-in-Law-Roberto L. Gonzalez Sr. Her In-Laws- Jose and Josefina Oviedo, sisters-in-Law Juanita Oviedo, Bertha Oviedo and Teresa Flores. 

Her siblings, Salome Martinez Jr. (Margarita), Juan S. Martinez, Guadalupe “Lupita” Gonzalez, and Blanca Cantu are left to treasure her life and memory. Her brothers and sisters-in-law, Ezequiel Oviedo, Margarito Oviedo, Pablo and Guadalupe Oviedo, Alberto Flores, and Jose Oviedo Jr. As well as several generations of nieces, nephews, and godchildren who many have continued in her pathway as educators in various instructional and administrative levels throughout the State of Texas. 

The family would like to thank the staff of Gentiva Hospice Home Care and her dedicated, supportive, and compassionate caretakers Hilda Nuniz Guzman Metelin.

Estela’s family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and a Holy Rosary recitation will occur on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., at Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home. A Roman Catholic Mass and Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in San Benito. After the Mass, Estela will be laid to rest at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito. 

Honored to serve as pallbearers are her nephews, Bobby, Ricky and Ronnie Gonzalez, Nuni Martinez, Lupe Ramires, Louie Cantu, and Johnny and Orlando Martinez.