The death of a loved one is one of the most difficult times a family can face, and the process of planning a memorial service or funeral only adds stress to an already difficult time. Nancy Olvera and the team at Eternity Funeral Home in Fort Stockton understands the difficulties families face at such a time and have made it their mission to make the process as easy as possible.

Olvera recently celebrated the 2-year anniversary of the opening of Eternity Funeral Home, located in the old Memorial Funeral Home at Dickinson and the Sanderson Highway next to the Deluxe Inn.

“I want to thank God, God is always first,” Olvera said, adding that she named the funeral home Eternity, “Because when we die, we all go into an Eternity.”

When she opened Eternity Funeral Home in July 2021, Olvera was alone in her venture, but has since grown to a staff of three – Herself, Celina Armendariz, and Erika Rivera.

Olvera is a pastor’s kid from Presidio and was a caseworker for the State of Texas for 15 years.

“Being a pastor’s kid, you’re raised to serve,” Olvera said. “Servanthood is instilled in you.”

When Olvera was young, she would always perform funerals for her animals.

“I always wanted to be unique, I wasn’t a follower of a trend or whatever was going on,” Olvera added. “Everybody was going for law enforcement, nursing or teaching, and I sure didn’t want to do none of that.”

After her time working for the state, Olvera’s plans did not include operating a funeral home in Fort Stockton. She had been working in Odessa and had plans to partner with someone to open a funeral home in Midland. Their plans to open in Midland were moving forward when she put the brakes on that deal and jumped at the opportunity in Fort Stockton.

“My dream was always to go back home, never here, never had a thought of Fort Stockton,” she said. “God called me here; it was during the beginning of Covid and it was never planned. God redirected me to be here and to start a new chapter in my life, to experience servanthood on my own.”

Olvera said it doesn’t matter where you’re from, it matters where your heart is, “Because my heart is to serve and that is what connects me to Fort Stockton because I want to serve and love the families and be able to help them in a time of need,” she added. “Where your treasure is, is where your heart is, and my treasure is servanthood.”

Olvera plans to retire in Fort Stockton and Armendariz – a Fort Stockton-native – will take over as the funeral director.

“It feels amazing to be able to serve my hometown,” Armendariz said. “This is home, so being able to give back to my community – I can’t even put into words how amazing it is to take care of my family of Fort Stockton.”

Olvera thanked the churches in Fort Stockton for trusting her, as well as city and county law enforcement. Pecos County Memorial Hospital and Hospice and medical staff.

“But most of all, the community, for trusting me,” Olvera said. “For trusting a newcomer with a desire to serve.”