Esperanza Alvarez Sanchez was born to Pilar Alvarez and Manuel Gamio in Villa Madero, Michoacán Mexico on July 18, 1924. She lived a happy childhood with her mother who maintained a small restaurant-inn in her home. Esperanza or “Perazo” as her mom called her attended a small private Catholic school away from home until about the 6th grade. As it was expensive, her mother (needing help at home) pulled her from the school, since Esperanza had been able to read/write and function very well, evolving into a mature young lady! She met her future husband Hilario Mondragon Sanchez as youths, also from her small village in Villa Madero. She would wed him later at the age of 17 and start a family ultimately having 13 children!
She is survived by her sons and daughters, Clementina Urias (Pedro), Jose Mario Sanchez (Sylvia), Gabriel Sanchez (former wife Lillian), Pilar Alvarez (former husband Ernesto), Aurelia Sanchez (husband Freddie), Fernando Sanchez (Nellie), Martha Ruiz (Arnold), Rosario Hillyard-Sanchez (Milton), Hilario Sanchez Jr. (Danielle Juanita) and preceded in death by her son Manuel Sanchez (former wife Gracie).
She was a homemaker and sold Mexican breads out of her home to trade/sell to make a living with her children while her husband would be abroad in the U.S. working as a government contracted “Bracero”.
In 1963, while working on a cattle ranch in Welton, AZ her husband was in a life threatening accident losing both his legs and causing her and children to immigrate to Arizona from Mexico. After her husband’s long recovery and rehabilitation, they both managed to open a family run Mexican bakery in downtown Phoenix. Throughout her life Esperanza was a devout Catholic who had a strong faith in Our Lady the Virgin of Guadalupe. She was an original member of “The Guadalupana’s” starting in 1973 at St. Catherine’s of Sienna Catholic Church in South Phoenix. She would lead the procession into the Guadalupana Mass with a fresh bouquet of flowers at hand, every 1st Sunday of the month at the 8am Spanish Mass. She was also a singer in the choir and sang beautifully with a high alto voice! She was the glue for her family and prayed daily for all her children plus over 100 grandchildren through great-great grandchildren! Esperanza was a meticulous clean lady who could cook some awesome traditional Mexican foods, salsas, sopas and calditos (soups) that all her children/grandkids loved! She spent the last of her years in her little casita (home) in Phoenix-Maryvale. Where, over time, she tended to all her flowers, cactus, trees, plants and had multiple doggies, birds, chicken, and fish.
She loved getting visits from her children, grandchildren and close friends till her final days. She lived solo-independently with a little help until late last year! Her friends often would say she had a great-funny sense of humor poking jokes, something she carried with her until her death. Esperanza will be missed but her spirit and faith in God-Jesus and the Virgin Mary will forever be with us! Descanse en paz Ama te amamos mucho!
