John F. Alvarez died at Hazel Hawkins Hospital on March 14. He
was born in Mexico and was 89 years old.
John F. Alvarez died at Hazel Hawkins Hospital on March 14. He was born in Mexico and was 89 years old.
He came to Hollister from Gilroy in 1929 and married his wife, Dolores, in 1948 in Hollister. He served his country faithfully during WWII in the U.S. Army and was a member of Sacred Heart Church, VFW Post 9242 where he served for many years as a member of the honor guard for funerals of deceased veterans. He was a member of the Guadalupana Society and cooked menudo for the celebration every year and was involved with the Cursillo movement. He sold cars for Tommy Grant, was a self-employed truck driver, worked for Gilroy Lumber and helped his son, Paul, for many years in The Deli. He also enjoyed playing golf.
He is survived by his wife, Dolores Alvarez, of Hollister; his children and their spouses, John Alvarez of San Jose, Alexandria and Ron Heinzen of Stockton, Paul Alvarez of Quincy and Mary Ellen and David Bena of Palo Alto; his brothers and sisters, Maria Martinez of Hollister, Aurelia Aldama of San Jose, Teresa Mendoza of Hollister, Raymond Alvarez of Buena Park and Jose Alvarez of Hollister. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Christopher Alvarez and his sister, Amelia Sanchez.
Friends can pay their respects on Thursday from noon until 8pm at Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home.
A Mass will be celebrated on Friday, March 18 at 2pm at Sacred Heart Church in Hollister. Friends can gather at the funeral home at 1:30pm for a procession to the church. Graveside services and committal with military rites will follow the Mass at Calvary Cemetery. A reception will follow the services at the Veteran’s Memorial Building Annex on Seventh Street.
Donations are preferred to Sacred Heart School Foundation and Veteran’s Memorial Building tile memorial fund c/o Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home, 363 7th St. Hollister, CA 95023.
