Alejandro "Alex" Alvarado Jr.

It is with great sorrow that the Alvarado family announces that Alejandro Alvarado Jr., more commonly known as Alex, has passed away on Tuesday January 14th, 2025 at the age of 47. Alex was born on September 7th, 1977.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith"
2 Timothy 4:7-8
Who Was Alex?
Alex lived a full life and enjoyed being in the company of his family and friends. Where Alex's mother, Ofelia Alvarado is from, a little pueblo town called Saladillo, Zacatecas in Mexico there wasn't too much to do other than to grow in faith and to get together with your family and friends and enjoy each other's company. That is exactly what Alex loved to do despite living a very busy life with family, school, and multiple jobs. In these times people find it harder and harder to get together but Alex would make it happen. Whether he was spending time with his nephews and nieces playing video games or games that he made up like "Mexican Restaurant" or meeting up with his friends and their families Alex found a way to connect with those that he loved. From his father's side and like the people from Monterey, Nuevo Leon Alex had charisma, an incredible work ethic, and a strong voice of reason. It was no wonder why Alex was the favorite to his brothers Richard, Albert, Adrian, and Aaron and why his cousins remember him as a brother.
Alex's Life and Hobbies
Growing up Alex loved watching basketball and football, especially the Spurs and Cowboys. Not only did Alex watch sports, but he also loved playing them too, especially basketball. Nobody in the family could beat him in the arcade basketball shootout game. In his final days his childhood and adult friends commented that Alex was an athletic force on the court. He was very fast and agile as well as strong for his size. Later in life Alex was very regimented and loved going to the gym. He made sure that he maintained good health as well as taking excellent care of his body through the food that he ate. However, Alex did love eating pizza, especially from his favorite restaurant Julian's pizza, where he and his family went for his birthday for many years in a row. Ironically for his final birthday he instead opted for a family gathering eating carne guisada at home made special from the hands of his mother Ofelia and Aunt Lupita.
Alex also loved watching movies with his father, cousins, nieces and nephews. Alex was an articulate guy but with the family he had a way of communicating in short phrases or no phrases. For instance, when he wanted to watch a movie, he would simply say "movie?". Or when he wanted something at the table he would simply point and make funny gestures to what he wanted. He was always a kid at heart and the kids appreciated his humor. He was great at making connections with those around him even with brief interactions or in passing. When he would be heading out to work and would see my mother working on the garden he would say jokingly, "Estas jalando en el Jardin? " With Alex it wasn't only what he would say that was funny but how he would say it. His father Alejandro shared that Alex was on the radio for one of his classes for his degree in Radio, Television, and Film. In those times they would say the time on air and Alex would simply say, "It's time to tell you the time" in an Alex type of way. Later in life Alex was pursuing a degree in radiology.
A Man of Faith
Alex was a Catholic through and through and growing up he attended St. James The Apostle Catholic Church where he received all his sacraments. Alex was the sponsor for his brother Albert in his confirmation and was the Godfather for his baby nephew Matteo, son of his brother Adrian. Matteo's grandparents and uncles will be sure to let Matteo know how great his Uncle Alex was. Alex lived a life of faith instilled in him by his mother and would attend mass weekly his whole life. In his final years he loved attending a church near the Alamo Quarry, St. Anthony de Padua and would often go to confession.
Ehler's Danlos Syndrome
Alex was born with a lifelong disease, Ehler's Danlos Syndrome, a rare disease that only affected 1 in 15000 people. This affected the elasticity or the stretchiness of his organs, ligaments, and skin. Throughout much of his life he could do many of the everyday activities we enjoy, however there were critical moments where he was set back due to the consequences of his disease including necessary heart surgeries, knee surgeries, eye issues and an abrupt life-threatening stomach ulceration. For those with understanding of the Catholic faith after Alex's stomach surgery had completely healed my mother said to Alex thank God that you aren't having pain anymore to which Alex replied, "I offer my suffering to God for my family". His recovery from this surgery was nothing short of a miracle. Later Growing up, his family was used to seeing Alex go to the hospital in dire situations, but he always came back through the powerful faith of my parents' prayers and what I can only attribute to divine intervention. He was so strong, and he was truly a living miracle after what he had gone through. Even through all this Alex didn't worry and the bible quote he left my dad on a sheet of paper reflects his attitude.
Matthew 6:26-27 "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
Alex got to know one of his doctors on a friendly basis and she came to visit Alex in the hospital during his last moments and shared with us his impact on her and her family. She also confirmed what Alex had told his family that when he had operations and doctors looked at his medical record, they were truly in awe of how he was alive. In a sense he was somewhat famous in the medical community and would often draw a crowd due to his condition and miraculous operations he had survived. With Alex's history many in the Alvarado family truly believed that Alex could make it out of one more dire situation in his final days, but God decided that it was his time.
A Tough Decision
Alex made the difficult decision that he wasn't going to have kids because he didn't want to pass his disease onto his potential children. Although he didn't have children of his own Alex was very close to his nieces and nephews Catalina, Lily and Timothy, the children of his brother Albert and was the godfather of Matteo son of his brother Adrian. In addition, he formed close relationships with the children of his doctor friend as well as with the children of his best friend Dave. Despite Alex's decision to not have children of his own he had a chance to be a positive and joyful influence on the children that he knew. Alex had a way of literally getting down to the kid's level and enjoying various games some of which he made up like "Mexican Restaurant" even with his knee and ankle issues.
Alex's Joy Through His Suffering
Throughout all of Alex's pain and suffering he exhibited the gift of joy from the holy spirit to those around him through his smile, jokes, love, and laughter. Aside from this Alex was a very intelligent and wise man who would often counsel many not just with words but through his example. Alex reminds us that when life gets tough like a saint we must remain in God's joy. Alex didn't complain and yet if he did, we would understand because of the difficult hand he was dealt in this life. Instead, he was joyous and grateful for every day he had because he knew that his life could be cut short at any moment. Alex was the type to like to do things on his own and didn't want to be a burden on others. For the most part Alex lived an independent life and only relied on family during those critical moments in his life.
The latest effect that Alex's disease had on him was the recurrence of a leaky heart that he discovered in September of 2025 that he had surgery on 4 years prior. In addition, he had issues with his feet where it caused him to have painful stacked toes making it hard for him to work. As usual he wanted to get back to work as quickly as possible, so he scheduled surgery for January 3rd, 2025 where he was denied due to paperwork and insurance issues. His medicine was altered for the surgery and wasn't given timely guidance on how to get back to his normal medication. Unfortunately, the ER doctors suspect this led to the eventual ischemic stroke that he suffered on the morning of Friday January 10th.
Alex's Final Days
Leading up to his foot surgery that never happened Alex made preparations with his work not to come in the following week, so he had a rare week off and he made the most of it by visiting his closest family and friends. On his final waking day Alex went to one of his favorite restaurants, Jersey Mikes, with his father and visited his brother Albert's house briefly to drop something off for 4 brief minutes. His brother nor his nephew were home but he did come in briefly and the family learned that he had a hidden talent in that he could play piano. He sat down with his niece one last time to play the beginning part of "fur elise", something Albert's family will never forget.
In the hospital Alex was visited by his many cousins, aunts, uncles, childhood and adult friends, coworkers, his pediatric doctor, the director of music from his parish and many others. They all shared stories of Alex's incredible work ethic and joyous demeanor. His supervisor from the Container Store shared that he was often used as an example for other employees and that at the company gatherings during the Christmas season they would go to Julian's pizza and when Alex would show up everybody would cheer for him and that's when the celebration began. Alex's supervisor from Target had incredible things to say about him as well. For most of his life Alex worked at Target or the Container Store, so it was good to hear the positive things that they had to say about Alex. His friends remembered his humor, joy, and athleticism when they used to play basketball with him. His childhood friends said that Alex was an inspiration to the life he led. Alex's doctor friend stated that Alex taught her children the value of hard work, which is a testament to Alex's positive influence. His final visitor was the director of music from his parish who Alex used to have coffee with said that he was a wonderful friend.
Alex Lives On
The Alvarado family is grateful for all the loving support Alex received in his final days of life. Alex had the blessing of having many rosaries prayed for him by the faithful of our family, countless prayers from our family and friends, at least 10 masses said for him and his last rites. Alex was a living walking saint among us who lived a life of hard work and through his gift of the Holy Spirit brought infectious joy to so many around him with his smile, jokes and laughter. He was a wonderful son, uncle, cousin, friend, coworker, and person of faith. Alex will truly be missed but in his last few days the Alvarado family witnessed the lasting impact he had in the hearts of so many and he will not be forgotten. We love you Alex and we will truly miss you until we meet again in paradise.
The Alvarado family has confidence and confirmation through the faithful that Alex went peacefully to the Lord our God in Heaven.
"Well done, good and faithful servant"
Matthew 25:21
Alex is survived by his parents Alejandro and Ofelia Alvarado, his siblings Ricardo Alvarado, Alberto Alvarado, Adrian Alvarado, and Aaron Alvarado, his nephews and nieces Brian Alvarado, Catalina Alvarado, Lily Alvarado, Timothy Albert Alvarado and Matteo Alvarado, his sister in laws Alyssa Rae Alvarado and Elizabeth Disney Alvarado, his aunt Lupita, his cousins Eddie Martinez, Mario Martinez, and Elias Martinez.
Funeral Services
Alex's funeral services are provided by Castillo Funeral Home with the Rosary is on Sunday January 26th from 4 to 8 pm. The Funeral Mass Service is at St. James the Apostle Catholic Church on Monday January 27th from 10 am to 11 am. The burial will take place in San Fernando III following the mass service.
Acts of Charity
Alex contributed to the March of Dimes organization because in part they support mothers and babies with conditions like his own. In honor of Alex, Alejandro Alvarado Sr. will continue to make contributions to the March of Dimes and the Alvarado Family encourages others to do the same.