Felicita Eleanor Alvarez

Mrs. Felicita Eleanor "{Leonor}" Alvarez (nee Tifre) died peacefully at Meritus Medical Center on April 30, 2020 in Hagerstown, MD at the age of 82
Felicita is survived by her husband Adolfo Alvarez of Honduras, Central America; her son Jose Dixon Castro of Brooklyn, NY, daughter Dr. Miriam Dobson (Richard) of Hagerstown, MD; her brother Salustiano Demosthenes “Momo” Tifre of Brooklyn, NY, her grandsons James and Richard Dobson, Jr. as well as host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents Lorenzo and Fidencia (Solano) Tifre; her brothers Lorenzo, Ciriaco and Juan Tifre; her sister Amalia as well as her grandson Mr. Barry Castro.
Felicita was born on January 7, 1938 in Trujillo, Honduras. She graduated from Saint Francis College in 1980 with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences. She worked for the City of New York as a case worker and an employment specialist for the homeless. She retired in 2002 and moved to Hagerstown, MD to be close to her daughter and grandsons. Her children remember her as a strong, hardworking, loving mother who encouraged them to pursue their goals. She overcame many hardships in life and always landed on her feet. Felicita cherished her friends and was a champion for single women struggling in life. She assisted many to achieve a college education and will be remembered by all as strong, generous and friendly. Felicita visited the Holy land, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Brazil, China and attended numerous cruises and bus trips in her life.
Felicita was a parishioner of St. Anne’s Catholic Church and was a member of the Golden Age Senior group there. Felicita was a proud member of the Garinagu/ Garifuna (Black Carib) indigenous community and was a fluent speaker of that pre-Columbian language. She wrote her own autobiography and has several copyrighted songs that she composed.
A graveside ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at Resthaven Funeral home and cemetery with a memorial celebration in Hagerstown and in New York to follow at a later date. Monsignor Jarboe will officiate the graveside ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Felicita's life at the memorial. The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of the Meritus Medical Center’s critical care unit as well as the Hospice of Washington County’s chaplain and social work staff.