Obituary of Librada Alvarez

Librada Alvarez, 91, of Sewell, NJ, passed away on Sunday September 15, 2024 after a courageous battle against lung cancer.

     Known to her loved ones as Lally and the first-born of eight siblings, she was born on the 20th of July of 1933 to Francisca and Arturo Soto in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico.  Growing up the daughter of a tenant farmer, Lally had big dreams.  When she was seventeen years old, she made a momentous decision that changed her life and the lives of her immediate family.  She managed to borrow enough money to pay for an airline ticket to New York City.  Arriving in New York, penniless, speaking only Spanish and knowing only one other person, a cousin, she settled into a factory job where she saved enough to pay back her debt for the airline ticket and then paid to bring her eldest brother to New York City.  Eventually, as a result of her great efforts, her entire family relocated to New York. 

   In June of 1958, she met the dashing brother of a co-worker, who was home on leave from the Army.  Jose Alvarez was so struck by her beauty that he brashly told her that he was going to take her on a date to Orchard Beach on July 4th.  Despite thinking that he was crazy, she went on that date with Jose—accompanied by a phalanx of her siblings under whose watchful eyes their love began to blossom.  After a five-month courtship, the young couple married later that year on November 29, 1958 and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2023.  

  During the course of their marriage, Lally also partnered with Jose in the accounting and tax services business that he founded in Vineland.  Together, they were the first to bring quality financial services to the Spanish-speaking community of Vineland.

 They went on to have 2 children, Abel Alvarez of Milford, CT and Glysel Vargas of Vineland, NJ. 

Lally spent her time cooking for her family and her flan and bread pudding are considered legendary.

  Lally was predeceased by her parents, Francisca and Arturo Soto and two siblings, Juliana, who died at childbirth and Angel Soto.  She is survived by her beloved husband, Jose, her children Abel and his wife, Gabriela Alvarez and Glysel Vargas and her husband, Albert Vargas, her grandchildren, Desiree Vargas, Chantal Vargas and Brooklyn Alvarez, and her two great-grandsons, Xavier Sudal and Michael Echevarria, and their fathers, John Sudal and Michael Echevarria as well as her dear sister Teresa Lopez and her husband Jack Lopez as well as a number of other relatives.

   To her grandchildren she became known as Mama.  Mama lived her life according to a strong moral compass built on her belief in God, a powerful devotion to her family, a strong respect for tradition and a love of Puerto Rican culture, that will continue to influence her family.  Mama was known for her taciturn manner, but her silence often spoke volumes, always taking the high road.  She advised her family to “never hate the person even if you hate their actions.”

   Services open to the public will be held starting 9:30 a.m. on Friday September 20, 2024 at DeMarco-Luisi Funeral Home 2755 South Lincoln Avenue, Vineland, NJ followed by an 11:30 a.m. mass at St. Isidore the Farmer Church at 1655 Magnolia Road, Vineland, NJ.