On February 22, 2026, surrounded by her loved ones, Criselda ‘Crissy’ Gale Olivares passed peacefully and entered eternal paradise. Born on a cold and misty evening, Crissy was welcomed to the world on January 3, 1961, by brand new parents Felipe Villarreal Valdez and Yolanda ‘Ruby’ Gonzalez Valdez. She grew into a curious child who loved exploring the wonders the wide world had to offer. From a young age, Crissy developed a profound love of the natural world and marveled at its curiosities from the mammoth to the microscopic.

A bright scholar, she graduated from Texas A & I University in Kingsville, Texas with a Bachelor of Education and quickly entered the elementary classroom at James Bowie Elementary in San Antonio, TX where she taught for 9 years. She then taught at Barrett Primary in Crosby, TX for an additional 20 years as a beloved science instructor for K-2 students. Crissy spent countless hours transforming her lab into elaborate ecosystems including the solar system, the ocean floor, and the rainforest canopy. Her fellow teachers remained some of her most cherished friendships until her final days. She cared deeply for her students and colleagues and her legacy lives on through them. 

Crissy was a talented musician who spent many evenings at her piano or with an acoustic guitar in her lap. She played many songs by heart and often entertained her children’s requests like “Hit the Road Jack” and “Moonlight Sonata”. She even kept a rattlesnake rattle in her guitar for extra reverb.

Crissy was a social butterfly, and to know her was to know singular friendship and devotion. She stayed connected to her long-distance friends and family through phone calls about her daily life and spirituality. During her time in assisted living facilities, she made many meaningful connections with fellow residents and facility staff. Days before her passing, many of these friends came to her bedside to wish her a peaceful transition through very touching goodbyes. Crissy shared a very special relationship with her mother, Ruby. They rejoiced during daily phone calls, often reminiscing about past lives, family, and their shared love of scripture. Their closeness was a treasured bond rooted in lots of love.

Crissy’s children and her grandbaby were the jewels of her heart. Her relationship with each child was unique and their stories were written across many different seasons. All three children remember helping her set up her classroom, memories strung together with a hundred staples. Crissy loved cooking out with her kids and husband Manuel, filling the neighborhood with smells of grilled meats and the sounds of ranchero music. Of all the hats she wore, her most cherished role was being a Mama Bear and over the last 6 years, a Granny Bear. 

She is survived by her mother, Yolanda ‘Ruby’ Estrada [Pastor Gilbert Estrada], children, Erika Lorraine [Kendall Gerdes], Kindra Lovelle, and Dakota Everett, stepson Manuel Olivares, Jr., her sister Laurie DeLome [children Andrew Guerrero and Miranda DeLome], and her beloved granddaughter, Kahlo Sonora. She is preceded in death by her husband, Manuel Olivares, her father Felipe Valdez, and her stepfather, Francisco Bernal. In her final days, Crissy found peace through walks down memory lane with her family, eating her favorite foods, and finally finding eternal rest. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Crosby ISD teachers grants. https://www.crosbyeducationfoundation.org/open-teacher-grants