Trudy (Chavis) Olivero of East Brunswick entered the joys of heaven on Jan. 15, 2017. May the Lord and all His angels greet her! She was a compassionate and loving wife and mother. Her “love” was her family and the most important aspect of her life.
Her children never wanted for anything. Born in Pembroke, N.C., an American Indian from the Lumbee tribe, she graduated Pembroke High School, moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1950 and lived with her sister, Mae. Here is where she met the love of her life, Guillermo Olivero. She stopped to buy a hot dog and he gave her the wrong change. This was a love story that began with letters each time she passed the hot dog stand. They were married for 65 years until her passing.
During her time in Brooklyn, she worked at a high-end boutique shop across from the Paramount Theatre, dressing those famous 1950s singing artists such as the Shangri-Las and others. She had a passion for “fashion” and never failed to impress. She loved that job!
During the time in Brooklyn, she had three children, two sons, Guillermo W. Olivero Jr., of Wadesville, Ind., and Richard Olivero and his wife, Jill, of Manalapan; and a daughter, Monserrate (Monse) Olivero Keim and her husband, Roger Keim, of Freehold. She and her husband moved to a brownstone (with the kids) directly across from St. Augustine’s Church.
Trudy, born of a family of Baptist preachers, raised her children as Catholics in accordance to her husband’s religion. She ensured her children attended St. Augustine Catholic School and attended church every Sunday. She and her husband took the kids out for a Chinese dinner or steak in Manhattan every Sunday – a treat for the entire family.
She and her family moved to East Brunswick in 1966. Moving from Brooklyn to East Brunswick was a bit of an adjustment for her and the family. As the kids adjusted, she decided to continue to work and had a 20-year career at Revlon as a line technician, retiring in 1987.
Other than being a supportive wife and mother, she was an excellent cook, mastering Puerto Rican dishes the family loved. She had an attentiveness of what her husband loved and learned from the best of her husband’s family. She loved learning and doing it. She made the best “bread pudding” anyone ever tasted and could make a can meat taste like the best meal you ever tasted over rice. Trudy loved feeding others and her kitchen was always open. You could see the smile on her face, and she had a “big” heart.
She spent some of her retired days playing dominoes with her husband and family. She knew how to throw the tiles down. She had a smile and laugh that was infectious whether she was winning or not. Trudy was a go-getter!
Trudy is predeceased by her father, the Rev. Bunyon (BC) Chavis and her mother Mattie; three brothers, L.P., Early and Gene Chavis; and one sister, Mae Caracciolo.
She is survived by two sisters and one brother, Clementine Dial (husband George Dial predeceased), Carole White and her husband, Ervin White, and Luther Chavis (wife Katie Chavis predeceased); three sisters-in-law, Mary Albino (husband Johnny Albino predeceased), Matilda Diaz and her husband, Freddy, and Felice Orta; four grandchildren, Gina (Olivero) Malayter and her husband, John, Keith Olivero, Justine Olivero and Marissa Olivero; two great-grandsons, John Joseph and Colson Olivero; and many nieces, great-nieces and nephews and great-nephews, all too many to count. And last but not least, a dear friend, “Fred,” to whom we have great gratitude for.
She was a beautiful woman, inside and out, strong and determined. She traveled her own road and encouraged us all to do the same. “Be different” was her motto. She was the salt of the earth and will be missed by many. We love you Trudy (Mommy), and when we are asked a question of what to do, I hope we will answer, “Why not …?”
Services were private. Arrangements were entrusted to Brunswick Memorial Home, East Brunswick. To leave a message of condolence, visit brunswickmemorialhome.com.