Karen (Elena) H. Alvarez's Obituary
Karen Helyn (Elena) Alvarez, 76, went home to be with the Lord on July 28, 2016. Karen was born on December 9, 1939 to Robert Sage and Edwina Mae (Wilcox) Deslandes in Berkley, MI. She attended Berkely High School where she played clarinet in the school marching band. As a 14-year-old girl, she experienced what it was like to be treated differently because of prejudice. People in her school and community assumed, because she had a Star of David and Ten Commandments charm on her bracelet, that she was Jewish and treated her differently as a result. She spoke to students and staff about her experience in a speech at her school, and in 1957, she received the B’nai Brith Brotherhood Award. She was an exchange student to Spain in the Youth for Understanding Program where she met the love of her life, Francisco Alvarez, to whom she was happily married to for 52 years. She had three children and three grandchildren whom she loved dearly. She worked as a bank teller and in adult education teaching Spanish. She and her husband served as a team couple for Marriage Encounter and were instrumental in trying to build bridges between the Anglo and Hispanic community at their church. Karen loved to cook and was a very devout Catholic and these two loves were expressed beautifully in her 15 plus years cooking for Catholic Charities at the Christian Community Center. She was also very involved in her parish and served as Eucharistic Minister and a Lector. Karen enjoyed reading and playing Upwards. She was a good wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister and friend. She will be missed beyond words. A MEMORIAL MASS will be held at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church (2929 McCracken St.) on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Harbor Hospice Foundation. Arrangements entrusted to The Lee Chapel, 6291 S. Harvey St. (231-798-1100). Feel free to share a memory with the family at www.sytsemafh.com.
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