Isabel Alvarez

One Woman's Life: Humble and Extraordinary As Isabel Alvarez looked back on 102 years of life, she was no doubt flooded with memories of the many changes in her life since leaving Camargo, Mexico. Upon moving to Mesilla, she had no idea how many social, political, and technological changes she would witness during her lifetime. Nor could she imagine that she would fall in love, marry, have four children, 10 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren. Isabel Flores de Gonzales was born in Camargo, Chihuahua, Mexico on November 19, 1905. She was the second of five children, two daughters and three sons. Her father, Juan Jose Flores fought with Pancho Villa during her childhood years. They survived the revolution and her father brought his family to Mesilla after the war, as an expatriate for their safety. She was around ten years of age when the Flores family arrived here. Her father worked as a farm laborer and raised his family in Mesilla. Isabel grew up here attending school in Mesilla. She made many friends, went to church, and loved to dance. As it happened, at one of these dances, she noticed a young man, whom she knew, with his arm wrapped up in a bandage. He had suffered a broken arm. She felt very sorry for him. His name was Luis Almeras Alvarez, and the rest is history. After their marriage in 1928, Luis and Isabel lived in an old house on Snow Road. Isabel remembers there were a lot of sand hills and snakes around. The house was isolated and Isabel was lonely during the long days when Luis was working in the fields. After a few years they moved to a house on Union Avenue where they raised four children. Luis farmed the land around them and Isabel worked hard to make their humble house a home. This is the same home where she lived until the end of her earthly journey. They were farmers, and Isabel and the children helped out in the fields. Later, health problems would prevent Isabel from working side by side with Luis. She dedicated herself to her home. She cooked great meals, did the family wash by hand, raised her children, crocheted, and gardened. Isabel always had to have a garden. She sold flowers out of her garden all summer long and in the fall, for El Dia de Los Muertos. She would harvest her mums, place them in tubs of water in the garage and sell them. The garage would have a wonderful scent and be a beautiful scene full of her wonderful flowers. Long time residents of Las Cruces and Mesilla know the Alvarez Farm well, as every summer the freshest vegetables were sold on trailer beds under a big mulberry tree. Isabel worked every day during the summer, from sun up to sundown selling vegetables to customers. It was extremely rewarding to her when second generation customers would arrive with their children in tow and would comment on their first visits with their own parents. She enjoyed the daily social interaction and their most loyal customers became part of the extended family. The vision of Mrs. Alvarez is permanently fixed in the memory of her steadfast customers whom she sincerely appreciated and greeted on a first name basis. A short woman with graying hair, standing under the mulberry tree, selling vegetables all day, adding up charges, and making change from the cash she kept in her old cigar box. They never bought a calculator or a cash register. They simply hung a scale by one of the big, sturdy branches of "La Mora," and scribbled the amounts on a note pad, adding up each customer's groceries by hand. Isabel was always accompanied under "La Mora" by her daughters and later by her grandsons and granddaughter. Everyone did what they could to help out based on their age and abilities. After the passing of their eldest daughter, Helen, Isabel and Luis helped raise her five grandchildren ranging in ages from six to 17 years of age. Both Isabel and Luis were in their mid-seventies and accepted this challenge with open arms, never looking back. Isabel continued to instill values such as; faith, hard work, integrity, commitment, and the value of a dollar, in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She completed her earthly journey by quietly slipping away at the end of the day on August 29,2008. Surviving her are her children, Arturo (Annik), Romelia, Aurelia (Ella) Nelson (John). Surviving grandchildren are Roberto A. Ferralez (Kathy Frietze); Louis A. Ferralez (Sally); Oscar A. Ferralez, Jaime A. Ferralez (Cherie); Sylvia F. Kaderly (Wally); Damian L. Nelson, Tonya Nelson, Lisa N. Staresina (Patrick0; Natalie A. Brunello (Scott), Stephanie A. Ewens (Damien). Isabel is also survived by 14 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and members of the extended Flores and Alvarez families. Pallbearers will be Arturo, Romelia, Ella, Robert, Oscar and Jaime Ferralez. Honorary pallbearers will be Roberto Alvarez, Louis Ferralez, Damian Nelson and Matthew Ferralez. A visitation will be held from 5-7 PM Thursday September 4, 2008 at Getz Funeral Home with a prayer vigil to follow at 7 PM also at the Getz Funeral Home Chapel. The funeral mass will be given at 10 AM September 5, 2008 at the San Albino Catholic Church. The rite of committal will follow at the San Albino Cemetery. PDF Printable Version