Olivia was born Olivia Oliver in Matanza, Cuba on a beautiful winter day in late January.  Her parents were Pedro J. Oliver and Maria Caridad de Labra, who are both deceased. She was one of four siblings.  Her older sister Carilda Oliver lives with her husband in Cuba.  Her younger brother Efraim Oliver lives with his wife in Miami, Florida.  Her brother Pedro Oliver is deceased and his widow lives in Bryan, Texas.  She went to the University of Havana and earned a PhD in biology, afterwards she stared teaching.  She was so young when she started working that sometimes she was mistaken for a student.  A few years later she met Joseph E. Duran and the two of them fell in love.  They had to delay their wedding plans because of the illnesses of Joseph's parents who both died young due to health issues.  After they married she continued working as a professor.  Olivia and Joseph started a family and had three children; Olivia, Sue and Anthony. They decided to leave Cuba due to all the political unrest and problems in the country and they came to the U.S. to start a new.  Olivia continued to work for a few years as a professor but then decided to become a stay at home mom.  Olivia and Joseph were not destine to have many years together.  She became a widow at an early age since Joseph, the love of her life, died young. She raised her three children alone after his death.  Once her children were grown Olivia became involved in helping abandon and stray dogs and cats, she had a very caring nature and a love of animals.  She also traveled, for she had a love of seeing new and different cultures.  She was able to travel internationally and within the U.S.  Her last big trip was to Cuba five years ago so she could see her sister, Carilda, and her beloved country of Cuba. She was also able to see her brother, Efraim, in Miami and other friends and relatives upon her return to the U.S.  After that she could only travel by car locally due to increasing health issues.  Her much loved dog, Cheeky, died this past December and his ashes will be placed with her so they will have each other on this journey they have both started.  Olivia is survived by her three children, her sister and her youngest brother.  She loved life and loved her family and will be greatly missed.  Olivia Duran had a long and wonderful life from 1/23/24 to 2/14/18.