Claudia Alvarez

On Sunday, June 13, 2021, Claudia Alvarez, loving wife of Johnnie Rouchka, loving mother to Suzanne “Suzy” Alvarez (deceased), Joel Alvarez, Angela Alvarez Simmons (Dave) and Jake Alvarez (Jessica), and proud “Mamaw” to Remi, Carlos, Maria, Kalila, and a baby boy that she was looking forward to meeting in November, passed away at the age of 72 at St. Luke’s Hospital with her family by her side.

Claudia was born on December 14, 1949 in Fort Worth, Texas to Claude Vaughn and Earlene Vaughn (Egger). She was a big sister to Mike Vaughn (Kristi), Mark Vaughn (Karen), Tisa Brookhyser (Rusty) and Matt Vaughn (deceased). She graduated from Bishop Lillis High School in 1968. In 1971, Claudia married her high school sweetheart, Daniel “Danny” Alvarez. During their 30 years together Claudia and Danny had four children, and they built a beautiful life on their farm in Polo, Missouri. Claudia was a dedicated wife and mother who devoted her life to raising her children in Polo, Missouri with Danny.

After her beloved husband Danny died, Claudia continued her education and became an esthetician who was dedicated to her clients. Claudia was lucky enough to reconnect with another high school beau, Johnnie Rouchka, via Classmates.com in 2005. Claudia and Johnnie both enjoyed several shared interests, including a love of dancing. After falling in love, Claudia and Johnnie were married in 2015. Claudia and Johnnie resided in Raytown, Missouri and enjoyed a wonderful life filled with love from their children and grandchildren.

Claudia loved to garden and raise and take care of her chickens, her “girls”. Claudia had a kind, generous soul and always loved giving to her family, including sharing the bounty from her garden and providing them eggs every time she visited with them.

Claudia was preceded in death by her parents, first husband Danny Alvarez, and her daughter, Suzy.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested contributions be made to the following to support continuing sarcoma cancer treatment research, which allowed her to courageously fight against Leiomyosarcoma for over 6 years:

The Sarcoma Research Fund

Washington University in St. Louis, Division of Oncology

Campus Box 8056

Attention: Grant Lawrence

4590 Childrens Place

St. Louis, Missouri 63110

Checks should be made payable to the “The Sarcoma Research Fund”.

The family requests that if you are attending either the visitation or funeral service if you will wear bright colored clothing in honor of Claudia. Even with relaxing of COVID protocol, the family also requests that facial coverings be used during Claudia's services at the funeral home.