Margarita "Maggie/Malla" Alhucema Marquez

Margarita "Maggie/Malla" Alhucema Marquez, age 88, of Alexandria, Virginia passed away on Friday July 6, 2018. Our mother was born in the small mountain town of Andacollo, Chile on September 5, 1929. At an early age she and her sisters had to help their mother raise their three brothers after the premature loss of their father. Maggie completed convent school in La Serena, and after the nuns realized she was too wild to be a novice, she followed the family to Santiago, Chile. In Santiago she met her husband to be Ramsey “Mike” which would lead to three children, and two moves across the world first to Sydney Australia and then to Alexandria VA. Our mother built us a warm and loving home in Alexandria. She learned English, and took on employment first at Holly Farms and then at 7-Eleven where she made many friends. She loved the sense of community and different experiences the work gave her. Upon her retirement she and a cousin travelled to Italy, France, and Spain, fulfilling a lifelong dream trip. She continued to travel in the US, and also Canada and Mexico -- which she loved almost as much as her own birth country. She would always remember her many travels fondly, and inspired her children and granddaughters to be confident world travelers. Our mother loved her family both here in Virginia as well as in Chile. She was very close to her sisters and many cousins, and frequently recounted stories of her life with them. She was also loyal to many friends here, in Chile, and Australia; each year making a concerted effort to mail Christmas cards to all her friends and family. She loved being active, reading books, cooking (especially lasagna), gardening, meeting with friends, and doing volunteer work at INOVA Mt Vernon Hospital. She really looked forward each Wednesday to going to INOVA, where she found a sense of community and purpose. Our mother taught us the importance of helping others, being compassionate, and supporting efforts of social justice. Most people knew her as an immensely kind, thoughtful, and generous woman. Her many experiences and challenges made her tough and independent, traits she passed on to her children and granddaughters. But her family also knew her as a goofy, funny, spunky, insatiable Swedish Fish eater. We miss her, but we know she is at peace and probably having a great cup of tea with her family and friends. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.DemaineFuneralHomes.com for the Marquez family.