Curt Forney captures some group photos of the Olivo Family.
A legacy of love and connection brought the descendants of Jacquline Rose Nunez to Loon Lake for an unforgettable family reunion. The Olivo family, spanning five generations, gathered and local businesses were called upon to serve at their extraordinary family reunion in early August. From catering to floating musical entertainment, the Loon Lake community showed up in a big way.
What does family look like to you? Every family is different. Whether close-knit, distant, or dysfunctional (or something in between), our family often dictates what we consider to be typical. Recently, I was invited to document a family reunion, and what seemed initially to be a fairly typical affair, quickly proved itself to be as exceptional as the extraordinary lady who founded the family.
The Family
Jacqueline Rose Nunez, “Rose,” was born March 1st, 1918 was married for sixty-six years, had sixteen children, and lived to be 103 years old.
Rose and her husband, Nello John Olivo, were married in 1936 and welcomed their first child shortly thereafter. Eventually, they had a home of sixteen kids, which led to thirty-two grandchildren, fifty-one great-grandchildren, and eleven great-great-grandchildren. Add in marriages and adoptions down the generations, and the couple’s legacy includes nearly one hundred and forty descendants.
Nello John Olivo passed away in 2003, and Rose lived for eighteen more years. She continued to meet many of her descendants and passed on her wisdom and values to her incredible family. In 2021, despite her sharp mind and strong spirit, Rose passed away due to complications from a stroke.
The Party
In addition to the large number of individuals in this unique tribe there is a strong desire to stay connected. The family comes together frequently for reunions; however, this is the first time they have gathered in the Spokane/Deer Park area.
Nine of the sixteen siblings were able to attend the celebrations. The bond between them was readily apparent. From jested rivalries to the boisterous conversations reminiscing about times gone by.
Thirteenth child, Barabara Cagle, was credited by many of the family members in attendance with being the glue that keeps them all together. Cagle has resolved to build email chains, texting threads, and Facebook groups to keep the family in touch with each other. She is also responsible for bringing the family together at Deer Lake this summer. Most of the family lives out of state, but with a herculean effort, Cagle found them all lodgings and planned a collection of wonderful events for them all to participate in.
Among the events was a biodegradable balloon release, stargazing on the beach, some meals from Jeff McGee of Bella Vita Catering, and a scheduled visit from the Ridler Piano Barge. Close friends of the family and local photographers Curt and Jackie Forney captured some of the special moments as well as some group pictures.
Cagle even had a commemorative coin made for the occasion.
The Inspiration
Inspired by her mother’s incredible life and efforts, Cagle worked tirelessly and self-published a book about Rose entitled “16x Mom: A Mastery of Motherhood.” Read more about Cagle’s book in an article we published here: News.dpgazette.com/2018/06/local-talent-writer-barbara-olivo-cagle. A documentary is also in the works. This labor of love has been in the works for a while, and Cagle hopes to finish within the year.
While the Olivio family may not be typical, their story is a reminder that it only takes a few family members to make an effort to bring everyone together and remember those who came before.
