Asuncion Alvarez (nee Lopez), age 81, of Andover, died Saturday, September 5, 2020. Asuncion was born in Havana, Cuba in 1939 to Lucrecio and Francisca (Pena) Lopez. She was one of 10 children.
On February 13, 1960, she married her lifelong sweetheart Candido Alvarez. They had 3 sons before coming to the United States from Cuba in 1968 and had a fourth son in America.
She lived 50 years in Northvale, NJ before moving to Andover. Affectionately known as Asunta, or Tia Tata to her extended Cuban family, she was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and babysitter for her grandkids and countless nephews and nieces. She was blessed with a large extended family spanning many generations that loved her and cared for her. She also loved them devotedly and cherished getting together with family whether it was here in Kansas, New Jersey, New York, or Florida. She became a proud US citizen.
She held various blue-collar jobs throughout her life, but also had an entrepreneurial spirit, at times selling homemade “cantina” lunches to coworkers and jewelry on lay-away to those with less than stellar credit.
She was a wonderful cook, loved telenovelas, and was a fierce domino player, usually having the most coins at the end of the night, even if she dozed off once or twice. She was ready anytime to go to the casinos to try her luck at slots (her favorite destination: “Tranti City”).
She was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers Orlando Lopez, Oreste Lopez and Ernesto Lopez.
She was most proud of her family and will be mourned by her husband Candido of Andover, sons Daniel (Kristine) of Wichita, KS, Raul of Maize, KS, Dean (Nicole) of Ramsey, NJ, and Javier (Maureen) of Cresskill, NJ; brothers Gilberto Lopez, Raul Lopez, Ovidio Lopez, and sisters Soledad Bello, Ada Alonso and Rosa Bernardo; grandchildren Zachary, Brianna, Lucas, Marisa and Jenna Alvarez; step-grandchildren Rebecca (Mark) Gerbrand and Ryan (Alexandra) Driskill and numerous extended family and friends.
