Adelaida Victoria “Ada” Duarte

BROWNSVILLE, TX. - Adelaida Victoria “Ada” Duarte of Brownsville, Texas, passed away peacefully on Thursday, the 2nd of May 2024, surrounded by loved ones. She was ninety-eight years of age.

Ada was born in Brownsville, Texas on October 7, 1925, the second of seven children of the late Enrique Ernesto Treviño and Agustina Salinas Treviño. She married Ernest Bartholomew (E.B.) Duarte in 1954 and soon after established Duarte & Company, an insurance company, and eventually expanded their business to include real estate. She was widowed at the young age of forty-seven and took over the agency during a time when it was very unusual for a woman to have a business of her own. She developed it into a very successful business and rose as a pillar of her community. 

She became the first president and chair of Brownsville's Friendship of Women, Inc., and served on several boards, including Brownsville Chamber of Commerce and its Bienvenidos Committee, the Palmer Drug Abuse Program for Youth, Brownsville Boys and Girls Club, and Brownsville Crime Stoppers. Ada was a co-chair and outreach volunteer for Saint Mary’s Works of Mercy, aiding the underserved, a mission which was especially close to her heart. She was an active member and leader of Zonta International of Brownsville and volunteered for the domestic-violence emergency shelter, through Friendship of Women, Inc. 

A lifelong Democrat, Ada served as committeewoman of Texas's 27th State Senate district. Ada was honored with the 1979 Insurance Woman of the Year award, as well as a 1986 award from Brownsville Business and Professional Women’s Club. 

Preceding Ada in death was her husband, E.B. Duarte; her parents, Enrique Ernesto Treviño and Agustina Salinas Treviño; her brothers, Enrique Ernesto “Henry” Treviño Jr., Felipe Honorio “Phil”Treviño, and Flavio Licinio Treviño; and her sisters, Sylvia Treviño Hendricks and Livia Lucila Betancourt. 

Survivors include her sister, Imelda Van Ecken, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, the 16th of May 2024 between the hours of five o'clock in the afternoon and nine o'clock at night, with the recitation of the holy rosary to begin at seven o'clock Thursday evening within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at ten o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 17th of May 2024 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1914 Barnard Road, Brownsville. Interment will then follow, via an escorted procession, at Buena Vista Burial Park, 5 McDavitt Boulevard, Brownsville. A reception will follow at a venue to be announced during the service.

In lieu of floral arrangements and customary remembrances, memorial contributions in memory of Ada may be sent to Mary, Mother of the Church, Works of Mercy, 1914 Barnard Road, Brownsville, Texas, 78520.

Memories of Ada may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com. 

Personalized funeral arrangements directed by Steven R. Hieu Bailey and Staff have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.