Barbara Ann Alvarez

Barbara Cedillo Alvarez, 67, passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at Mountain View Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She was born on March 1, 1958, in Las Cruces, where she spent her life rooted in family, faith, and community.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Enrique and Remijia Cedillo. She is survived by her longtime companion of more than twenty years, Joe Castillo; her beloved sons, Joe (Melody) and Travis (Michelle) Alvarez; her cherished granddaughters, Miabella and Isabel Alvarez; and her sisters, Patricia, Teresa, Alicia, and Rita.

Barbara dedicated her professional life to serving others as a social worker, while also expressing her voice and creativity as a novelist and freelance journalist. She found joy and peace in the fiber arts and, before her cancer diagnosis, shared her love of music and faith by playing guitar in the parish choir at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Cathedral.

Strong-willed and resilient, Barbara faced life’s challenges with quiet determination and rarely showed pain. Above all, she was a devoted mother and grandmother, doting on her sons and granddaughters with unwavering love, pride, and tenderness.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on January 20, 2026, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Cathedral in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Rosary will follow at 11:00 a.m., with the Funeral Mass beginning at 11:30 a.m. A reception will take place at 12:20 p.m. at Finley Hall.