Nicolasa Alvarado

Nicholasa was born on March 5, 1919, in Odessa, Texas, to the late Diego and Guadalupe (Salazar) Alvarado. She graduated from Odessa High School in 1937. She continued her education at Columbia University in New York, where she attended the New York School of Social Work, and later earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University in 1962.

Approximately two weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, two FBI agents appeared at the family home at 510 West First Street to interview Nicholasa and her parents. The visit was baffling until Nicholasa received a telegram from the War Department instructing her to report on January 26, 1942, to an Internal Security Agency office in San Antonio. She worked for the Internal Security Agency from 1942 until 1945, leaving her federal position two months after V-E Day.

Nicholasa began her social work career with the American Red Cross. After 18 months of service with the organization, she was awarded a one-year scholarship to attend the graduate school of her choice. She completed her first year of graduate work at Columbia University. After many years of dedicated service with the Red Cross at both the local and national levels, she returned to school and completed her master’s degree in 1962.

Following her graduate studies, Nicholasa worked for Catholic Family and Children’s Services, where she served as Director of Social Services for 18 years. She retired in 1980. Her commitment to service continued, however, as she remained active in the community and served on several advisory committees. In 1990, she was invited to join the staff of Mental Health and Mental Retardation in San Antonio. She also worked part-time counseling parents of children with emotional and mental challenges, work she described as the most gratifying of her career. She retired once again in 1996.

Nicholasa deeply loved her family and was known for her remarkable storytelling—she could tell a story for days. She shared a particularly close bond with her sister, Maria Dominga “Minga” Alvarado; the two lived together for nearly their entire lives. Nicholasa also enjoyed traveling and visiting family whenever she could.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Ascension "Sunshine" Alvarado, Cipriano Alvarado, Jose Maria “Joe” Alvarado, and Gregorio "Greg" Alvarado; and her sisters, Juana Alvarado, Antonia Sarah “Toni” Roberts, Maria Dominga “Minga” Alvarado, and Candelaria Alvarado.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Monday, January 12, 2026, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home, with the Rosary being recited at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, followed by graveside committal at the Rose Hill section of Ector County Cemetery.

Brandon Gregorio Alvarado, Jaime Alvarado, Danny Essary, Ian Essary, Isaiah Essary, and Eduardo Jesus Medina (EJ) will serve as pallbearers. Elvis Montemayor and Dennis Alvarado are honorary pallbearers.