On June 25, 2018, Margaret “Maggie” Victor Olvera rejoined the love of her life husband Joseph “Joey” Olvera. They had been married for only twenty-eight fun filled years when Joey unexpectedly died in 1975.
Maggie was a lifelong Manteca residence who graduated from Manteca High in 1942. She was a homemaker who lived in the same house from 1950 until 2008 when she moved into Prestige Senior Living. Maggie and Joey had two children, Edward Olvera and Kathleen “Kathy” Olvera Siebler. Maggie was never one to dwell on her children’s accomplishments, but she was deeply proud of Ed’s success as a psychotherapist and the selfless way he provided a supportive family life for so many who had no place to go and no one to turn to. The center of Maggie’s life, though, was her caregiver, social chair, daughter Kathy. For more than two decades, Kathy assumed total responsibility of her mom’s well-being and happiness. Although Maggie was a fiercely independent spirit even when she moved to Prestige Assisted Living in Manteca in 2008, Kathy was with her every day. And if she couldn’t be there to make sure that the staff were on their toes when it came to Maggie’s care, Kathy made sure cousins Evie or Shari took her place.
As one of the original residents, Maggie was a well-known personality and the center of social life at Prestige. Alternately known as the “mayor”, the storekeeper, the organizer of bingo and pedro card games, and the best Wii bowler on the premises (several times scoring a perfect 300), she was the liveliest senior there. The staff appreciated Maggie as she was quick to say “hello” and joke around and invite the “younger” people into her room to socialize. Above all else, Maggie was a social person. She loved to be around people and make them laugh and focus on the positive side of life: her rule at card games was “no one talks about being old and sick!” She was a breath of fresh air at Prestige.
Maggie loved to go dancing and laughing and enjoying life. In the “80”, Maggie’s social life became the subject of feature stories published by the Manteca Bulletin. The antics of “Mudcat” Maggie and her sister “Marvelous” Madeline were described in details as they entertained the locals around town and at brother Ray’s Lucca Bar. After Joey’s death, Harry Troglia a kind and gentle man became Maggie’s long-time partner and constant companion. When he died in 2004, Maggie endured another devastating sorrow, but she put on a brave face and continued to live life as the determined, sassy, fun- loving person her friends and family had come to expect. She was also known as the perfectionist about many things-cleaning, cooking, dressing, crocheting hundreds of afghans for her family and friends, baking pies for whomever asked, sending homemade cakes for Kathy’s coworkers. She was a thoughtful, generous, kind and loving person. She insisted that things be done her way, but in later life when she couldn’t live up to her own standards, she began to defer to Kathy. When Maggie would point out to the caregivers that they weren’t doing things the “right” way, i.e., the way Kathy did them, Maggie was giving her daughter the ultimate compliment.
Mom, Auntie Maggie, Granny Granny, Mudcat, or just plain Maggie, she was the last of her generation of Victors. Parents, Isabel and John, siblings, Albert, Madeline and Ray preceded her in her death, and her beautiful granddaughter Rachel Derose-Olvera. Besides Ed and Kathy, Maggie is survived by grandson Jerome “Skip” Siebler, Audreana, Giovanni, Sommer, Corben, Chance, Angela and Andrew Derose-Olvera, great-granddaughters Alisha, Ashlie, Alyssa Siebler, and great-grandson Kaiden Derose-Olvera, nieces Evelyn Potts and Sharon Emperador. Maggie’s nephew Jimmy Victor and niece Chrissie Hazuka. She is also survived by many younger friends, notably Julie, Shannon and Katherine, each of whom joined Kathy and the family to celebrate Maggie’s 95th birthday on May 21, 2018. This was Maggie’s last social event and it was a joyful, festive time. Orchestrated by her daughter Kathy, the party was held at Prestige and Maggie was overwhelmed by the attention she was given. Ordinarily not an effusive person, Maggie was uncharacteristically sentimental and shy at her party. She kept repeating over and over, “Thank you, thank you, everyone for coming.”
No, Maggie, thank you for bringing light-hearted fun and high spirits into our lives! We will miss you.
P.L. Fry & Son Funeral Home is honored to serve the Olvera family. A memorial mass will be held on July 24, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Church, 505 E. North Street in Manteca and is open to the public. Burial will be private and held at a later day.
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Maggie was a lifelong Manteca residence who graduated from Manteca High in 1942. She was a homemaker who lived in the same house from 1950 until 2008 when she moved into Prestige Senior Living. Maggie and Joey had two children, Edward Olvera and Kathleen “Kathy” Olvera Siebler. Maggie was never one to dwell on her children’s accomplishments, but she was deeply proud of Ed’s success as a psychotherapist and the selfless way he provided a supportive family life for so many who had no place to go and no one to turn to. The center of Maggie’s life, though, was her caregiver, social chair, daughter Kathy. For more than two decades, Kathy assumed total responsibility of her mom’s well-being and happiness. Although Maggie was a fiercely independent spirit even when she moved to Prestige Assisted Living in Manteca in 2008, Kathy was with her every day. And if she couldn’t be there to make sure that the staff were on their toes when it came to Maggie’s care, Kathy made sure cousins Evie or Shari took her place.
As one of the original residents, Maggie was a well-known personality and the center of social life at Prestige. Alternately known as the “mayor”, the storekeeper, the organizer of bingo and pedro card games, and the best Wii bowler on the premises (several times scoring a perfect 300), she was the liveliest senior there. The staff appreciated Maggie as she was quick to say “hello” and joke around and invite the “younger” people into her room to socialize. Above all else, Maggie was a social person. She loved to be around people and make them laugh and focus on the positive side of life: her rule at card games was “no one talks about being old and sick!” She was a breath of fresh air at Prestige.
Maggie loved to go dancing and laughing and enjoying life. In the “80”, Maggie’s social life became the subject of feature stories published by the Manteca Bulletin. The antics of “Mudcat” Maggie and her sister “Marvelous” Madeline were described in details as they entertained the locals around town and at brother Ray’s Lucca Bar. After Joey’s death, Harry Troglia a kind and gentle man became Maggie’s long-time partner and constant companion. When he died in 2004, Maggie endured another devastating sorrow, but she put on a brave face and continued to live life as the determined, sassy, fun- loving person her friends and family had come to expect. She was also known as the perfectionist about many things-cleaning, cooking, dressing, crocheting hundreds of afghans for her family and friends, baking pies for whomever asked, sending homemade cakes for Kathy’s coworkers. She was a thoughtful, generous, kind and loving person. She insisted that things be done her way, but in later life when she couldn’t live up to her own standards, she began to defer to Kathy. When Maggie would point out to the caregivers that they weren’t doing things the “right” way, i.e., the way Kathy did them, Maggie was giving her daughter the ultimate compliment.
Mom, Auntie Maggie, Granny Granny, Mudcat, or just plain Maggie, she was the last of her generation of Victors. Parents, Isabel and John, siblings, Albert, Madeline and Ray preceded her in her death, and her beautiful granddaughter Rachel Derose-Olvera. Besides Ed and Kathy, Maggie is survived by grandson Jerome “Skip” Siebler, Audreana, Giovanni, Sommer, Corben, Chance, Angela and Andrew Derose-Olvera, great-granddaughters Alisha, Ashlie, Alyssa Siebler, and great-grandson Kaiden Derose-Olvera, nieces Evelyn Potts and Sharon Emperador. Maggie’s nephew Jimmy Victor and niece Chrissie Hazuka. She is also survived by many younger friends, notably Julie, Shannon and Katherine, each of whom joined Kathy and the family to celebrate Maggie’s 95th birthday on May 21, 2018. This was Maggie’s last social event and it was a joyful, festive time. Orchestrated by her daughter Kathy, the party was held at Prestige and Maggie was overwhelmed by the attention she was given. Ordinarily not an effusive person, Maggie was uncharacteristically sentimental and shy at her party. She kept repeating over and over, “Thank you, thank you, everyone for coming.”
No, Maggie, thank you for bringing light-hearted fun and high spirits into our lives! We will miss you.
P.L. Fry & Son Funeral Home is honored to serve the Olvera family. A memorial mass will be held on July 24, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Church, 505 E. North Street in Manteca and is open to the public. Burial will be private and held at a later day.
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Friday, July 6, 2018
