Maria Alvarez

Donna - Maria Alvarez passed away at the age of 84.  Her funeral arrangements are under the care of Hawkins Funeral Home in Donna.

Maria del Refugio Hurtado de Alvarez was born in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico to Filiberto Hurtado and Dolores Robles. She was the sixth of nine siblings whom she loved and cared for very much. Although she moved to the United States away from her family, she would always make time to go and see them.

She moved to the U.S. when she married her lifelong partner, Cecilio Alvarez, on May 5, 1974. She captured his attention and heart with her famous “pollo en escabeche”. They were married for 46 long, love filled years, during those years they had two daughters and gained many friends.

During her time on this earth, she presented herself as a loving, caring, God fearing woman. Cuca devoted her time to her roles as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, tia, friend, and (her favorite role) grandmother. She opened her arms, her heart, and her home to anyone she believed needed the extra love in their life. She spread her warmth to everyone by her positive words, actions, comforting food, and even through scolding. She loved hosting events at her home where the love and joy was felt from the moment she greeted you at her beautiful garden up till the time you left with hands full of her leftover delicious desired food and a full content heart.  She felt happy when she had family and friends over and when she visited her Reynosa sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews whom she loved and care for much.  

Although Cuca only had two biological daughters and two granddaughters, along her journey in life she became a mother and grandmother to many more. Refugio took her role as mother very seriously as she provided and pushed her children to further their education. There were circumstances while her daughters were in school when she was learning with them, she always found a way to provide for them with every penny given by her husband. She made sure that she set the best examples and protected her daughters to her fullest capacity to make sure they would always be happy. With those two daughters came sons-in-law who spoiled her. There was never a moment when she wasn’t asking how, where, and if they were well fed, if not then she would take the time to make them any meal of their choice. If Ricardo wanted “patitas de puerco with black beans” or Carlos wanted “mole” she made sure she made their requested food, and don’t think it ends there because this continued with her granddaughters. If she was making a meal and either “Camilita” or “la lagartijita” didn’t like it or weren’t in the mood she would start up a completely different meal for them. This wasn’t the end of her spoiling them; she would take them to target because they wanted more Lalaloopsy’s, she would walk the girls down the road across the street if they wanted tacos or pizza, she would be on time to pick them up from school every day, and even take them to Chilis if they wanted mac n cheese. She was a very involved grandma, she showed it by being present for every event in elementary to being at every dance performance and game no matter where or when it was, even when she was not feeling up to par, she would make it possible to be there.

On the morning of Friday, November 24, 2023 our angel got her wings. She joined her husband and her siblings in heaven, but left a legacy of love, unity, and family for us to follow for years to come. Her loving siblings, daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, and nieces were there to see her off.

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