Obituary of Hermelinda Ortiz Delara

Hermelinda Ortiz DeLara, 85, passed away on April 26, 2026, in Plano, Texas.

Hermelinda was born on October 28, 1940, in Mexico to Magdaleno Ortiz and Concepcion Saenz Ortiz. She was the oldest of ten children, with six sisters and four brothers. Raised by her carpenter father and homemaker mother, Hermelinda learned the values of faith, hard work, compassion, and service—qualities she carried with her throughout her life.

Hermelinda married Francisco Castro DeLara, a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Korean War era. Together, they raised four sons: Frank Jr., Daniel Larry DeLara, Christopher Edward DeLara, and Felipe Duane DeLara. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, and her family was one of the greatest joys of her life.

After her children began attending school, Hermelinda started her career in healthcare at John Peter Smith Hospital, where she cared for infants. While working, she attended community college at night and earned her Certified Nursing Assistant certificate. She later worked for the Fort Worth Public Health Department, where she truly enjoyed serving others.

Hermelinda also became certified as a teacher’s assistant and worked with elementary students before returning to healthcare, where she felt her true calling. She cared for children with Down syndrome at the Fort Worth State School and later provided home health care for the elderly. Eventually, she returned to JPS Hospital, where her career had begun. There, she worked as a CNA on the sixth floor and was loved by her co-workers for her kindness, dedication, and willingness to go above and beyond for anyone in need. She was recognized as one of the best CNAs on her floor.

Hermelinda was a woman of strong faith and grew up involved in church. She loved singing in the choir and was especially fond of her church family at University Baptist Church, where she last attended.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Magdaleno and Concepcion Ortiz; her brother, John Ortiz; her husband, Francisco Castro DeLara; and her son, Frank Jr. DeLara.

Hermelinda leaves behind Frank’s wife, Victoria; her sons, Daniel DeLara and his wife, Letty, Christopher DeLara and his wife, Alma, and Felipe DeLara and his wife, Damaris; her grandchildren, Andrea, Manuel, Rita, Christopher Edward II, Erica Nicole, Alex,  and Denillion Frankangelo; her great-grandchildren, Alejandra, Alexis, Charissa, Cruz, Mikey, and Emma; and her great-great-grandchildren, Lila and Art.

Hermelinda was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and friend. Her kindness, strength, faith, and servant’s heart will be remembered by all who knew and loved her. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all whose lives she touched.

Visitation: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at University Baptist Church, 2720 Wabash Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76109.

Funeral Service: 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at University Baptist Church.

Interment: Emerald Hills Memorial Park in Kennedale, Texas.

Reception: A dinner will be served immediately following the internment at Tia's On The Bluff, 1301 E Bluff St, Fort Worth, TX 76102.