Josefina Alvarez

Josefina Alvarez (nee Meiriño) died on March 15, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 91. She is survived by her children Josefina (Stuart Raskind), Alicia, and Alfredo Jr. (Ida Melbye), her grandchildren Alejandro Raskind, Olivia Alvarez, Siena Alvarez, and Ryan Alvarez, and five nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Alfredo and her sister Hilda Vila. She was born in Cuba. She graduated from the Normal School of Kindergarten of Las Villas, and taught kindergarten in Cuba. She married Alfredo Alvarez in 1954 and they honeymooned in Miami Beach. In 1968, she emigrated to the United States with her husband and three children. They lived in Miami for one year before the family moved to Chicago so Alfredo could attend dental school at the University of Illinois Chicago. In Chicago, she worked at a curtain sewing factory and at the Sears catalog distribution center, eventually managing the office when Alfredo set up his own dental practice. When Alfredo died in 1983, she returned to school, took classes at Truman College and graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a degree in bilingual education at the age of 57. She taught kindergarten at Joyce Kilmer Elementary School in Chicago until her retirement. She was deeply religious and was involved in her church (St. Margaret Mary Parish, now Holy Child Jesus). She was generous, compassionate, patient, gentle yet strong. She exercised regularly at the Galter Center until shortly before her death. She loved spending time with her friends, gardening, and cooking. She made the best flan, black beans, arroz con pollo, croquetas, and frituras de guaguí. Most of all, she adored her grandchildren.

Visitation Sunday, March 20th from 2-7 PM at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Homes 6150 N. Cicero Ave. Chicago, IL 60646. Funeral Monday, March 21st, 9:30 AM from Smith-Corcoran to Holy Child Jesus Parish at St. Margaret Mary for Mass at 10 AM. Interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery in Evanston.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in her memory to UNICEF, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, Catholic Relief Services, Northeastern Illinois University Foundation, or a charity of your choice.

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