Part I
Nicholas Antonio Benavides
April 28, 1992
March 9, 2013
"IN THE END MY LIFE IS WORTH EVERYTHING I'VE DONE AND EVERYTHING I'VE YET TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED. FOR THIS PLACE WHERE I LIVE IS TEMPORARY".
Part II
Nicholas "Nico" Antonio Benavides
April 28, 1992 - March 9, 2013
Nicholas Antonio Benavides, 20, our beloved son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend, entered into the glory of his eternal life on Saturday, March 9, 2013, at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, Texas surrounded by his loving family.
Nico, as he was affectionately known to all, was born in Frankfurt, Germany. He had been a lifetime resident of Brownsville, having grown up here. He was a graduate of James Pace High School Class of 2010. Nico enjoyed going fishing but his true passion was playing basketball. Nico enjoyed cheering for his favorite team the Miami Heat. Nico had an awesome sense of humor as well as a big heart. Even in death, Nico will help countless others who will receive the gift of life through the organs and tissue that he donated. He was always ready to lend a helping hand to his family and friends. Nico was greatly loved and will be profoundly missed by all those fortunate to have known him.
Nico is preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Esperanza Mendez his paternal grandmother, Mary Helen Benavides and his maternal uncle, Roberto Mendez Jr.
Left behind to eternally treasure their memories of Nico are his mother and stepfather: Monica Iris and Rudy Buitureira his older brother: Ricardo Rico Benavidez III and his fiance Amy Sanchez his two younger sisters: Bryanna and Bianca Buitureira his father, Ricardo Benavides Jr. his nephew Brandon Benavidez and the nephew thats on the way who will carry his name: Bradley Nico Benavidez. Nico will also be missed by his maternal grandfather, Roberto Mendez, his paternal stepgrandparents, Fulgencio and Maria Elena Buitureira his maternal aunts and uncles: Margie Felipe Beltran, David Mendez, Yvette Juan Rey, and Cesar Nancy Mendez his cousins: Bobby and Vanessa Beltran, Erica and Ashley Mendez, Miguel and Monique Rey, Alejandra and Carolina Mendez and his cousin who is on the way: Cesar Daniel Mendez and numerous other relatives, extended family members, and a multitude of friends.
Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. and continue through 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, in the East Chapel at DarlingMouser Funeral Home with the recitation of the holy rosary scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening. The Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2013, at St. Josephs Catholic Church, 555 W. St. Francis St. Committal services will follow at Buena Vista Burial Park.
Ricardo Rico Benavidez III, Cesar Mendez, Felipe Beltran, Juan Rey, Miguel Rey, Roberto Bobby Beltran, and Mark Guerrero are honored to be serving as Nicos pallbearers.
David Mendez, Coach Larry Gibson, Joseph Martinez, Israel Garcia Jr. Chicken Little, Alan Perez, Javier Rivera Jr., Javier Ojeda, Michael Putzel, Matthew Putzel, Javi Guero Villarreal II, Edward Casares, Alex Robertson, Alex Quiroga, Steven Almazan, Michael Campbell, Sal Villapando Jr., Shane Rhode, Mac Gonzalez, Joel Vigil, Ruben Castro, and Jaime Figueroa will serve as honorary pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers and in keeping with Nicos love of basketball, the family is requesting that memorial gifts in Nicos name be made to his mother, Monica I. Buitureira, to help Nicos team, the Ballaholics, with the expenses for the upcoming city league basketball season. To further celebrate Nicos life, we ask that for those of you attending the funeral service, please wear the colors for the Miami Heat red, black, and white.
April 28, 1992 - March 9, 2013
Nicholas Antonio Benavides, 20, our beloved son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend, entered into the glory of his eternal life on Saturday, March 9, 2013, at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, Texas surrounded by his loving family.
Nico, as he was affectionately known to all, was born in Frankfurt, Germany. He had been a lifetime resident of Brownsville, having grown up here. He was a graduate of James Pace High School Class of 2010. Nico enjoyed going fishing but his true passion was playing basketball. Nico enjoyed cheering for his favorite team the Miami Heat. Nico had an awesome sense of humor as well as a big heart. Even in death, Nico will help countless others who will receive the gift of life through the organs and tissue that he donated. He was always ready to lend a helping hand to his family and friends. Nico was greatly loved and will be profoundly missed by all those fortunate to have known him.
Nico is preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Esperanza Mendez his paternal grandmother, Mary Helen Benavides and his maternal uncle, Roberto Mendez Jr.
Left behind to eternally treasure their memories of Nico are his mother and stepfather: Monica Iris and Rudy Buitureira his older brother: Ricardo Rico Benavidez III and his fiance Amy Sanchez his two younger sisters: Bryanna and Bianca Buitureira his father, Ricardo Benavides Jr. his nephew Brandon Benavidez and the nephew thats on the way who will carry his name: Bradley Nico Benavidez. Nico will also be missed by his maternal grandfather, Roberto Mendez, his paternal stepgrandparents, Fulgencio and Maria Elena Buitureira his maternal aunts and uncles: Margie Felipe Beltran, David Mendez, Yvette Juan Rey, and Cesar Nancy Mendez his cousins: Bobby and Vanessa Beltran, Erica and Ashley Mendez, Miguel and Monique Rey, Alejandra and Carolina Mendez and his cousin who is on the way: Cesar Daniel Mendez and numerous other relatives, extended family members, and a multitude of friends.
Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. and continue through 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, in the East Chapel at DarlingMouser Funeral Home with the recitation of the holy rosary scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening. The Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2013, at St. Josephs Catholic Church, 555 W. St. Francis St. Committal services will follow at Buena Vista Burial Park.
Ricardo Rico Benavidez III, Cesar Mendez, Felipe Beltran, Juan Rey, Miguel Rey, Roberto Bobby Beltran, and Mark Guerrero are honored to be serving as Nicos pallbearers.
David Mendez, Coach Larry Gibson, Joseph Martinez, Israel Garcia Jr. Chicken Little, Alan Perez, Javier Rivera Jr., Javier Ojeda, Michael Putzel, Matthew Putzel, Javi Guero Villarreal II, Edward Casares, Alex Robertson, Alex Quiroga, Steven Almazan, Michael Campbell, Sal Villapando Jr., Shane Rhode, Mac Gonzalez, Joel Vigil, Ruben Castro, and Jaime Figueroa will serve as honorary pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers and in keeping with Nicos love of basketball, the family is requesting that memorial gifts in Nicos name be made to his mother, Monica I. Buitureira, to help Nicos team, the Ballaholics, with the expenses for the upcoming city league basketball season. To further celebrate Nicos life, we ask that for those of you attending the funeral service, please wear the colors for the Miami Heat red, black, and white.
Obituary Provided By:
Darling-Mouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Boulevard Brownsville, TX 78520 www.darlingmouser.com
945 Palm Boulevard Brownsville, TX 78520 www.darlingmouser.com
Part III
The transition from Frankfurt,
Germany to Brownsville, Texas was a hard one. Frankfurt is the largest city in the state of
Hessen and the fifth largest city in Germany, with a population of 717,264.
Frankfurt is a center for commerce, culture, education, tourism and web
traffic. How could he have managed to end up many miles away from home, in a
small town on the American-Mexican border? Born in Frankfurt, Germany on April
28, 1992. At such a young age he did understand the full concept of arriving in
a small town, with not much to enjoy. Brownsville was his new home and he was
here to stay. There was quite some distance between his new home and his
elementary school, but he still managed to arrive on time. Living a few miles
away from his school, his house was on the outskirts of town, with the nearest
neighbors being a few acres away and was difficult to have the kids around the
neighborhood come over to play. His house was not too much to brag about,
compared to the luxurious one he had in Frankfurt. However, Nico was such a humble person,
luxury was not a concern for him, as long as had four walls, a roof, a bed to
sleep in, food to survive, and clothing to keep him warm he was happy. He had a
tremendous passion for basketball, but since the kids were too far to go over
at home, he joined the basketball team at school as an extra curricular
activity in order to play basketball. Nico pursued his passion for basketball
all the way through high school, and eventually got a court to play at home and
would invite his friends to play with him.
Unfortunately, Nico passed away
when he was only twenty years old. After Graduating from James Pace High
School, he attended The University of Texas at Brownsville, where he declared
himself as a Criminal Justice major. Nico, was a full time student and devoted
his spare time not only to doing homework, but stay physically active. Being a
full time student and doing homework, he also worked part time at Schlitterbahn
at South Padre Island. Despite the good-hearted individual he was, he did not
have a significant other, and preferred to keep it that way until he had
graduated from college and was financially stable. However, good friends and
teammates, always surrounded Nico, and that he was thankful for.
Being born in Frankfurt, at a young
age Nico was exposed to the beautiful sight seeing’s of the country, especially
the skyline that Brownsville does not have. Growing up in the United States was
a struggle for Nico and his family, since the cost of living was more expensive
in comparison to that of Germany. Towards the beginning his mother struggled to
support her four children and most of Nico’s clothes were hand me downs from
his older brother. Once his mother remarried the family as a whole was able to
get back on their feet financially and were able to afford to buy Nico his own
vehicle, instead of always depending on a ride from a friend to go to school.
After this amazing gift from his mother and stepfather, Nico decided to help
around and provide a source of income for himself, so his parents could help
out his younger sisters. He was always willing to be a helping hand to his
family, which he did whenever his sisters needed a ride to school. Even
in death, Nico will help countless others who will receive the gift of life
through the organs and tissue that he donated.
Unfortunately Nicholas Antonio
Benavides got to live twenty years of his life. His life was very brief and
there is so much he did not get to experience. Even though he lived a short
life Nico’s grave reads “IN THE END MY LIFE IS WORTH EVERYTHING I’VE DONE AND
EVERYTHING I’VE YET TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED. FOR THIS PLACE WHERE I LIVE IS
TEMPORARY.” Nico believed there is a life after death, and that life was when
you start actually living and serve your purpose in the name of the lord. Nico
is missed dearly by al his loved ones; friends and family. Although he is gone,
he is never forgotten. There is no doubt Nico left his mark on those who had
the pleasure of knowing him and is serving a greater purpose in his new,
permanent home. There is no doubt Nico is playing basketball in his afterlife
and can devote all his time to that now.
The town of Brownsville, is located
directly on the Mexico border, is Texas’ southernmost city. An international
bridge connects the city to Matamoros, Mexico. Brownsville is the county seat
of Cameron County and is the major manufacturing center of the Rio Grande
Valley. The city is serviced by U.S Routes 77, 83 and 281; and his its own
general aviation airport, the Brownsville/South Padre Island International
Airport. Brownsville is situated about 275 miles southeast of San Antonio and
165 miles south of Corpus Christi. Much of the hometown of Nico is known for
its Texas history. When Texas declared its Independence from Mexico in 1835, it
claimed the Rio Grande River as its western boundary. The treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo, ending Texas’ war of Independence, confirmed the area where
Brownsville now stands as being American territory. In 1848 the city of
Brownsville was founded and named after Major Jacob Brown, a war hero.
Incorporated as a city in 1853, Brownsville played a prominent role in the
Civil War as a major port for the exporting of cotton and other goods by the
Confederate States of America. After the war, a period of reconstruction ensued
and by the early 1900’s, the city was enjoying prosperity and experiencing a
surge in population. The city today stands as one of the fastest growing
manufacturing regions in the United States and an important center for
technology, industry and distribution.
Nico lived in a spacious, but small
home. Being one of four children, he shared rooms with is brother Ricardo
Benavides III, until Ricardo grew old enough to move out and happily lived with
his at time fiancé Amy. As mentioned earlier, Nico came form humble beginnings
therefore he lived a simple life and cherished what he had. Their life
consisted of playing outside during the day and in the evening the family would
gather around and enjoy a simple, but delicious meal after giving thanks. The
kitchen consisted of a small scraped table with two ancient chairs and two
small-rusted stool. The meals were prepared over a hand me down stove, with
only one burner working, and an oven that was used as a heater on cool days. Even though the family was of very limited
resources, their hygiene was a priority; the family would bathe in a very
reduced size shower with no ventilation. The family restroom was separated form
the rest of the house by a warn out cloth, but maintained privacy for everyone.
The view of their backyard was bare land with very limited greenery, while
their front yard was covered with plenty of trees to enjoy the shade and to
nourish in its delectable fruit. As the seasons changed, they regretted the
unbearable heat where there was hardly any breeze. During the day in order for
the family to alleviate the hot summers they would gather around the families
porch. In the porch area they had all the necessary tools to do odd jobs around
the house, as well as fixing their vehicle. The family also obtained a little
bit of income by repairing other people’s appliances or simple mechanic jobs.
They viewed their porch as a means of survival by doing odd jobs. The family
also had a simple shack attached to the home, which Nico’s mom used for the
laundry. The children were not allowed to enter that room because it contained
solutions that his mom used for washing and cleaning the house. The laundry
room had a small window, which allowed the mom to constantly supervise the
children as they played outdoors. In the backyard there was a rusted metal
swing set in which the children played when they came home from school, as well
as on their long weekends.
Nico enjoyed a happy life because
he was grateful for what he had instead of spending his life dreaming of more
possessions. His happiness consisted of his family, basketball and enjoying the
outdoors. In his short life, he lived
his fullest with hardly any regrets. There is no doubt if Nico was given to
relive his life, he would live it all the same. He did not accomplish much, but
then again he did not have big aspirations. His simple life and his hobby of
playing basketball was all he needed to feel fulfilled. If all the people in
the world would be content with the simple things in life, like Nico, this
world would be a better place.
I am able to say I had the pleasure of knowing
Nico personally and can account for this story and was a witness to his
generosity even to those he did not know. May he rest in peace.
Friends of Nicholas Antonio Benavides
Personal Family Friend
Bibliography
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