Dolores Almendarez was both a Texan and a Latina, living a big life full of joy, zest, and grit, but was taken from her family by COVID-19 on Dec. 30, 2020. She was born in McCamey, Texas to Pedro Montañes Almendarez and Elisa Garcia on July 18, 1947 as the oldest of 10 children. She was an adventurous young woman – moving to Louisiana, Nigeria, England, and Scotland with her first husband Fred Day.

As her mother’s health began to fail in 1973, she came home to care for her mother and ended up moving back to Texas with her three children. To make ends meet, she worked three jobs and took on non-traditional roles including driving a cattle truck for a meat packing plant and test driving for Firestone.

She met her husband of 40 years, Dimas Contreras, in 1979, an unfailingly kind man and source of constant support. Similarly, Dolores was always generous and loved to give presents. Christmas was a special time where she did her best to make sure everyone, even those outside her family, received gifts.

Also generous with her talents, Dolores was an excellent cook and made delicious food from her well-stocked kitchen, especially known for her tamales, tortillas, menudo, asado, and enchiladas. Dolores was often the life of the party – dancing, playing games, and laughing with friends and family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Diana Sue Day, her sister Epifania Almendarez, and two grandsons, Joshua Ramon Urias and Anthony Cardona. She is survived by her husband Dimas Contreras, daughter Norma Ann Day of Midland, TX; son Christopher Ryan Day of Plano, TX; six grandchildren, Shanna Murray, Carissa Urias, Elizabeth Cardona, Orlando Cardona, Ryan Day and Nicholas Day, and nine greatgrandchildren, Jarrod White, Aiden, Collin, and Brady Sturgis, Nathanael Urias, Obadiah and Genesis Reyes, and Vincent and Joseph Cardona.

Interment at Rose Hill Cemetery in Odessa, Texas and memorial services will be at a later date when family and friends can gather. Memorials may be sent to the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures COVID relief fund at www.nalac.org/ actos-de-confianzadonate/ or the charity of your choice.