Mary Jane Alvarado

Mary Jane Alvarado, age 91, of Chula Vista, California passed away peacefully at home in Chula Vista, CA. She was surrounded by her family in prayer on Friday, April 12, 2024 after a long fight with vascular dementia.

A celebration of life for Mary will be held Monday, April 29, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Glen Abbey Memorial Park and Mortuary, 3838 Bonita Road, Bonita, CA 91902, followed by a committal service from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

She was born and raised in Nogales, Arizona to Rafaela and Vallice Lee Owsley who preceded her in death. She graduated from Nogales High School and worked retail in Capin’s Mercantile for 25 years in positions ranging from sales clerk to bookkeeper. She married her high school sweetheart, Jesse Alvarado, in 1958.

She loved fashion, interior decorating, singing and dancing. She sang for her parish, Sacred Heart, in the choir and often sang at church wedding ceremonies. Mary Jane enjoyed a good fiesta, singing and dancing at celebrations with friends as husband Jesse strummed the guitar. In other instances singing along with the mariachis was her delight and a joy to watch. She was a loving mother, sister, and wife who cared for her own parents and sister Helen in their later years.

She retired in Nogales, AZ and enjoyed her home and family for many years before arriving in San Diego County in the summer of 2018. Mary Jane and her loving husband, Jesse, resided with their daughter Carolyn and family in Chula Vista until her passing.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Jesse Alvarado, her sister Gloria Owsley (Eric) Griggs, her children Carolyn (Fidel) Ledezma, Ralph Alvarado, and Maricela (Ernesto) Valencia, as well as her grandchildren Christian Ledezma, Ariana Ledezma, Avery Alvarado, Andrea Valencia, Emanuel Valencia and sister-in-law Olga Owsley; as well as her nieces, nephews and godchildren.

Mary Jane was preceded in death by her siblings Vallice Lee Owsley Jr., “Sonny” (Olga), Helen Owsley, William Owsley, Johnny Owsley and Betty (Manuel) Owsley Grijalva.

We ask for your continued prayers as Mary Jane Alvarado continues her journey to meet our Lord above.