SYRACUSE – Jose F. Olivares, 85, Syracuse, passed away at 1:28 p.m. March 24, 2015, at I.U. Goshen Hospital. He was born Feb. 17, 1930, in San Antonio, Texas, to Jose and Maria de la Luz Martinez Olivares. On May 16, 1953, in Syracuse, he married Nancy C. Ketering, who preceded him in death May 23, 2010. He grew up in San Antonio, and graduated in 1949 from Central Catholic High School there. In 1953, he graduated from University of Notre Dame with a degree in civil engineering, and received his law degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. He was an architectural engineer, attorney and private businessman, and formerly operated the Continental Hotel in San Antonio. He lived in San Antonio until he retired and moved to Syracuse in 1997. He was a member of the St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Syracuse, where he was a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus, and he formerly attended the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in San Antonio. He devoted himself to supporting Chicano rights initiatives in San Antonio, such as the League of United Latin American Citizens. Surviving are five daughters: Elena Olivares, St. Louis, Mo.; Luz “Lucy” Olivares, South Bend; Monica (and spouse Val) Garcia, Tivoli, Texas; Nancy K. Alaniz, San Antonio; Toni (and spouse Joe) Van Gompel, Austin; four sons: Joseph Olivares, Ann Arbor, Mich.; Eric and Mark (and spouse Bea) Olivares, both of San Antonio; and Michael Olivares, Albuquerque, N.M.; and 12 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Jeanette Olivares. A funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 6941 E. Waco Drive, Syracuse. Burial is in Violett Cemetery, Goshen. Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Owen Family Funeral Home, 1001 S. Huntington St., Syracuse, with a rosary service at 7:30 p.m. ***** Memorials to St. Martin De Porres Catholic Church, 6941 E. Waco Dr., Syracuse, IN 46567 or Catholic Charities of America, P. O. Box 17066, Baltimore, MD 21297-1066. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home or church. Condolences may be sent via www.owenfamilyfuneralhome.com
