Olivia A Hernandez

Olivia “Abuelita” Hernandez, 99, longtime resident of Toppenish, WA, passed peacefully with family on October 4, 2023. Abuelita’s enduring warmth, loving feistiness, and generosity will be remembered with love by her children Pedro “Pete” (Thu Le); Quintilia “Tina” (Patrick Shay); Rosamaria “Rosy;” Santos Jr. (Jeanie); Sandra (Jose Benavidez); Priscila (Silvestre “Silver” Cantu, Jr.) and Oscar (Wendy) and deceased Juan “John” (deceased Maria “Soco” Socorro). We include Olivia’s grandchildren John Hernandez, Jr. deceased Moises Hernandez, Sunshine Shirley; Amy Matsumoto, Alicia Hernandez, Joel Hernandez, Christina C. Perez, Pedro “Pedrito” C. Perez Jr., Jamie C. Perez, Ramon “Santitos” Alaniz, Gabrielle “Gabby” Hernandez, Matthew Hernandez, Michael Hernandez, Maria Hernandez, Israel Benavidez, Daniel Benavidez, Lisa Sanchez, Sylvester “Little Silver” Cantu III, and Olivia Cantu. Olivia also enjoyed many of her great grandchildren – too numerous to list. She is predeceased by her beloved Husband, Santos Hernandez Sr., who passed away in 1978 at the young age of 59. Born in 1924, Olivia was raised in the village of General Cepeda in Mexico when, as a teen, she was introduced to an American soldier, Santos Sr., through a two-year pen pal writing campaign while he served in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II. He eventually proposed marriage through these writing exchanges, and they were immediately married at St. Francisco de Assisi Catholic Church in General Cepeda, Mexico in 1946. A loving mother of seven children, she doted to a fault over each child. As a strong-willed mother, she ran the family with an increasingly firm approach when the health of her husband, Santos Sr., continue to deteriorate over the years before his death in 1978. She represented an industrious woman who worked hard to balance tasks while ‘managing” the family and laboring at farms’ fields and food processing plants to support the family. Olivia was an avid gardener who loved her plants and flowers, crocheting, and preparing delicious homemade Mexican dinners for the family. She loved her pet parrots and singing birds and would often befriend stray cats. Funny, opinionated, and thoughtful to the end, Olivia cherished her family and seemed most in her element at preparing traditional Mexican festive gatherings at holiday dinner tables, sharing stories, songs from his favorite Mexican “corridos,” reminiscing about her wonderful family culture, or passing on wisdom gained from a love-filled life often through hard lived life lessons. Abuelita used to say, “Sin familia, nada” (“Without family, nothing”). Olivia’s devotion and staunch defense to those she considered family was a gift to all who were loved by her. No one would dare challenge the family unless you welcome Abuelita’s humorous string of Spanish swear words. General Visitation will be from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM and Family Visitation from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Monday, October 9, 2023, at the Heggies Colonial Funeral Home, 228 S. Alder Street, Toppenish, WA 98948. Family and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM. on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 213 N. Beech Street, Toppenish, WA 98948. A burial will ensue at Zillah Community Cemetery. Meal gathering will immediately follow the burial service at the church hall of St. Aloysius Catholic Church. To honor Olivia, flowers will be welcomed and may be ordered from Alice’s Country Rose Floral, 210 W. 3rd Avenue, Toppenish, WA 98948. For online condolences, please visit www.heggiescolonialfuneralhome.com

Olivia A Hernandez

July 4, 1924 - October 4, 2023

Navigation

Address

Contact Us

Olivia A Hernandez

July 4, 1924 - October 4, 2023

Navigation

Address

Contact Us

365 Days of Grief Support