Funeral Service Costs for Hector Alvarez Sr.

My name is Hector Alvarez Jr. My father Hector Luis Alvarez Sr passed away on 9/8/19. He left us on the exact day of my mother's birthday. The death wasn't a shock but the timing was a surprise. My father was battling health issues for quite some time. My dad was a giving person for the majority of his life. He was a helper and a teacher by nature. From close family, distant family, to even recent friends he would often offer his home to anyone who needed a place to get themselves together. At around 18 he lost his mother in devastating fashion. While some families get broken apart the family only grew tighter. Most of my life my dad often taught me not to judge people. Not to criticize people unless I walked in their shoes. We had as many Muslim family members in our family as we had Christians and early on I learned that all is love if it serves well regardless of what people believe. 




Hector Sr sewed ties for many years. My brothers and I often joked at how he was a human machine stitching tags on a tie one by one. That company eventually fell apart and in his mid 40's he decided to go back to school. In Queens College and in Long Island University he often joked with that he was older than some of his professors. My dad would end up getting 2 masters putting himself through school taking night classes while working at the same time. He became a teacher in his later years and often did put together plays with his students. My oldest brother William was in school at the same time my dad entered College and he was slacking. My dad made a bet with him, my brother competitive by nature himself obliged. My dad said "I bet you I graduate before you." My brother took the bet and my brother actually won. They would end up getting their Bachelors around the same time! 




To his nephews and nieces Uncle Hector shared a special bond with many of them. Most of their childhood fun moments of skating, theater, & other activities were because my dad would pick them up. To his family often he sacrificed and did whatever was necessary. His oldest sister Carmen to the very end he would help her with errands until the very end of his life. Oxygen in his car and all, he was always catering to her. This was my dad. For William, Stephen, Ariel, Anthony, Elizabeth he was our loving father. For Joan & Caridad his presence of a dad was apparent and never treated them like anything less than a daughter. They both always told me that. I had high praises for that. 




If you've made it this far then its only right I be honest. In the last decade of his life my dad isolated himself. I've learned in life this tends to happen as some people get older. My dad gave so much of himself to family, friends, and even strangers. I want him to have the proper send off the way he wanted. I told him recently while he was in the hospital of these plans and he actually smiled and said "well if you can pull it off, that would be great." Then he went to sleep until a nurse woke him up. I would like to do 2 services for my dad. With pictures, videos, one for his family and friends in New York and for those in Florida. Currently its not easy for certain family members to travel from both areas to pay their respects. So in early Oct my siblings & I want to have a short service honoring his life with music, food, & a chance for people to remember my dad for all of his beautiful attributes & achievements. Any support to honor this man would be greatly appreciated and will completely go to his services. 




Hector J Alvarez