Maria Isabel De Oliver

Maria Isabel Silva de Oliver passed away on November 21, 2012 in Dalton, Georgia.
She was born on April 19, 1913 in Ponce, Puerto Rico, the daughter of Francisco Luis Silva and Isabel Maria Auffant. She was orphaned at the age of 12 becoming a mother to her younger siblings.
She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 67 years, Dr. Jose Oliver Gonzalez, as well sisters, Esther Iturrondo, Ada Braun and brothers, Luis and Carlos Silva.
Mrs. de Oliver attended the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in arts. While at the university, she was President of the Debate Club, President of the Council for Arts and President of the Student Body during her last year. She also worked as a Nurse’s Aide at the Oncology Hospital in Rio Piedras.
While her husband was attending the University of Chicago for his graduate studies, Maria hosted many fundraising activities to help Latino and international students, becoming an officer and eventually President of the International Student’s Organization, a position never held by a non registered student.
Dr. and Mrs. Oliver returned to San Juan in 1941. There she was foremost a wife and mother, raised three sons, and was active on school committees and worked part-time. She also chaired fundraisers for various organizations particularly the American Society for the Control of Cancer which is now the American Cancer Society. She also traveled extensively, especially during sabbatical years, residing in Cleveland OH, Ann Arbor MI, Bethesda MD, Madrid, Brussels, and Geneva. At home, in Puerto Rico, she became politically active and a delegate for the Popular Democratic Party. She was President of her cherished Garden Club and was Director of the Ashford Hospital Ladies Auxiliary of Puerto Rico after many years of service. Maria was also on the board of trustees of the Administration for the Advancement of Arts and Culture of Puerto Rico and was an accomplished soprano, pianist, painter and guitar player. She loved to garden, cook and enjoyed a good witty joke. Although usually fearless, she was very hesitant of driving during her early years. Eventually, she willed herself to learn to drive while in her fifties, becoming essentially a terrible driver, terrorizing whoever was brave enough to ride with her and the public in general. Fortunately, no one was ever hurt, but her questionable driving skills and love for speed became the source of family jokes and folklore. However, this allowed her to function independently and pursue her interests well into her eighties, giving her the last laugh.
Maria is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Jose Enrique Oliver and Rosie of Plantation, Florida, Felipe Armando Oliver and Mabel of Plantation, Florida and Dr. Jorge Miguel Oliver and Cathy of Rocky Face, Georgia; Sister, Adela Rodriguez of Puerto Rico; grandchildren, Denise Oliver, Jose Oliver, Cynthia Oliver-Diaz and Miguel, Pedro Oliver and Wanda , Josef Michael Oliver, Mark Ian Oliver, Jason Alden Oliver; great-grandchildren, Ivan Sola, Najah Diaz, Naveah Diaz, and Adriel Oliver; and 12 nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass for local friends will be celebrated on Saturday, December 8th at 1:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 501 South Moore Road Chattanooga TN 37412
with Rev. James Vick officiating.
A memorial mass and service for family and friends to celebrate Maria’s 100th birth date will take place in April 2013 at St. Therese of Lisieux Roman Catholic Church in San Juan, Puerto Rico where she was a parishioner and member of the choir for over 50 years.
Maria was a colon cancer survivor and in her later years, developed vascular dementia. In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to the American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Association or the charity of your choice.
Words of comfort may sent to the family at www.lovefuneralhomega.com.
Love Funeral Home, Dalton, GA. is in charge of arrangements.