Carmen Figueroa Alvarez's Obituary
CARMEN “Monsita” FIGUEROA ALVAREZ, loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She left this world on February 12, 2022, at the age of 73 at Baptist Hospital in Miami, Florida.
She was born to Angel and Eva Figueroa in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico on May 1, 1948. After living in Puerto Rico, then Brooklyn, New York, the Figueroa Family established their permanent residence in South Florida. As the oldest of 8 brothers and sisters, Carmen was a parent before her time but, family was the epicenter of everything she did. She graduated from Miami Central Senior High while working for Southern Bell. It was during that time she met her first husband, Jose Azel, they had 2 children, Daniel & Michelle. She loved to dance, read, and laugh and was constantly surrounded by extended family and friends.
One fateful evening her extended cousins took her out to a private club, El Don Quixote, where she met Armando and began the next chapter of her life. Their marriage of nearly 47 years was admirable in so many ways, they were inseparable and still they were always surrounded by extras! We lovingly called our home the halfway house, a place where so many sought advice, help, food, or shelter. Carmen was a surrogate to cousins, friends, children of friends, and even strangers. She loved spending time in the kitchen, creating delicious meals for her family. There was always enough for everyone and always an extra place setting or two at our table.
She was curious and crafty; Painting, cross-stitching, ceramics, cake decorating, and mastered a variety of worldly cuisines. After 32 years of service with the phone company she retired and later pursued her passion for cooking with a degree from Le Cordon Blu. Even after retirement, they decided to help the most vulnerable and began fostering children. They fostered several children before receiving the call about a possible new-born who needed placement. Instantly after meeting the baby in the NICU, she knew this was her calling and took her home 30 days later. Amelie was officially adopted but was “ours” the minute she came home-the baby of our family. Selfless acts were common for Carmen as was her fierce love and passion for her family.
Carmen is survived by her husband Armando Alvarez, Son, Daniel Azel, Daughters Michelle Belaire and Amelie Alvarez, Father Angel M. Figueroa, Brother Angel Figueroa, Sisters, Nydia Soto, Evelyn Zayas, Elba Cruz, Susie Bonilla, and Lucy Hernandez and Grandchildren, Andres, Alejandra, Sage, Anise and, several nieces and nephews.
A viewing is scheduled from 6:30-10:00 PM on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at Memorial Plan Westchester Funeral Home. The funeral procession will leave Westchester at 1PM towards Dade South Memorial Park (14200 SW 117th Avenue, Miami 33186) Wednesday, March 2, 2022 for a 1:30 PM service.
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