Lourdes Alvarez

Our sister Lourdes is finally free. On May 4, 2020, she joined our Mom & Dad (Francisca & Luis Alvarez), our sister Ivette (Alvarez-Lopez), and her beloved Snowball & Red in Heaven.

Our beautiful little feisty sister, Lourdes, was stricken with a stroke two years ago that left her whole left side paralyzed forcing her to be in a wheelchair and living in a Skilled Nursing Facility. She went through so much. All those who knew her would agree ‘she was a forced to be reckoned with’ and she was not about to give up. She never stopped going to therapy and did all she could do to get better. I know she was grateful for all those who continued praying; and she held a special place in her heart for all those who came to visit her especially her sisters, Yvonne and Arlene, for moving down from NY to be close to her.

Being that my sisters were now in Tallahassee, we took pleasure in taking turns in taking Lourdes out more often. We enjoyed her company as much as she enjoyed ours. But this pandemic and quarantine stole time from us. For almost two months, we were unable to be with her. Thank goodness for modern technology that we were able to talk and see each other on FaceTime. But it was not the same and so very hard.

In the early morning of April 28, 2020, she was stricken with a second stroke that her poor little body could not handle. This time the stroke compromised her swallowing muscles and it was slowly killing her. Because of this pandemic, the first few days while Lourdes was in ICU, we were not permitted to see her. It was awful. When things got bad, her Doctor found it in her heart to let us be with her. As sick as Lourdes was, her face immediately lite up when she saw Yvonne, Arlene and I enter her room with mask and gloves. She was not alone! And via FaceTime, the family she loved so much also had a chance to tell her how much they loved her. The very next day, May 4 at 5:13 a.m., she aspirated and passed peacefully in her sleep at Big Bend Hospice in Tallahassee with my sisters and I by her side.

It is never easy to say goodbye. But to have her finally out of that dreadful wheelchair and dancing in heaven with no pain, makes it joyfully easier. We are so grateful that her tenaciousness gave us over two years with her. We are going to miss you so much Lourdes. Thank you for always keeping your humor and making us laugh even when it was hard.

Until we are reunited, may you Rest in Peace our dear little sister, and enjoy being freeeee!!!

Your loving sisters Janet, Yvonne, Arlene, Frances, Bernadette; and her Titina.