Obituary of Ana Maria Alvarez

Ana Maria Alvarez died peacefully on June 24, 2012. She was born in Chihuahua City, Mexico, May 15, 1927. Ana Maria attended school in Chihuahua and graduated from secretarial school in 1944. At the age of 17 she immigrated to California and lived with her father and his family in Salinas. There, she met and married a young WWII veteran in 1948, Manuel Alvarez. When their daughter, Yolanda was 6 years old, they moved to Watsonville where their second child, Irma was born. After their divorce in 1962, Ana worked in the frozen food industry until 1969 when she returned to Salinas to help her father operate one of his restaurants, La Conga Cafe on Market Street. Ana successfully operated the restaurant until her retirement. In retirement, Ana indulged her passion of travel. Among her favorite places were Israel, Italy and Hawaii. Her favorite Christmases were spent in Kauai with her daughters and grandsons and their families. We will all cherish those memories of Hawaiian Christmases with her. In 2007, due to declining health, Ana Maria came to live in Santa Cruz with her daughter Yolanda. In Santa Cruz, she made new friends and became interested in new activities. She learned Yoga, dabbled in art and became a soccer fan. We want to express our gratitude and heartfelt thanks to Elderday, a program of Salud Para La Gente, for having fostered these interests, in our mother and grandmother. Ana Maria was preceded in death by her brothers Rodolfo and Agustin Flores, and her son-in-law Thomas Henry. She is survived by her daughters, Yolanda Henry of Santa Cruz, Irma Alvarez of Salinas, grandsons Matthew (Andrea) Henry of Chula Vista, Benjamin (Elizabeth) Henry of Dublin and five great-grandchildren, Thomas, Caroline, Jonathan, Brianna and Mikayla Henry. She also leaves her brother Jorge Flores and beloved cousins, Baltazar Flores and Concepcion "Concha" Prieto, all of Chihuahua. Memorial and Mass of Christian Burial have been held and donations may be made to Elderday 100 Pioneer Street, Suite C Santa Cruz, CA 95060.