Mr. Mario Arturo Alvarado, age 70, passed away at his home, on Saturday, April 27, 2024, surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous and valiant fight with esophageal cancer.
Mario was born on June 1, 1953, in Edinburg, TX and graduated from Edinburg High School in 1972.
In 1977, he married Minerva "Minnie" Padron and shared 45 years of loving marriage. Mario was a devoted husband and father to their three children, Bobby, Marisa, and Marina. He was a man of many passions, including fishing, tending to his lawn, hosting BBQs, carpentry, and fixing anything that needed his attention.
But above all, he cherished spending time with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren. Mario had a way of making a lasting impression on everyone he met, never meeting a stranger.
Mario was a proud US Air Force Veteran. He served as a weapons mechanic on the F-4 Phantom Fighter from 1973-1977. He had the good fortune to serve in both Europe and Asia.
After his honorable discharge from the military, Mario worked in various settings before dedicating 22 years to the Engineering Department at Edinburg Regional Medical Center until his retirement in 2019.
For over 42 years, Mario was dedicated to his 12-step recovery program and helped countless others facing similar challenges. He shared the principles of the program with humor and wisdom, speaking all over the country to audiences large and small.
Mario will be deeply missed. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Minerva "Minnie" Alvarado, father, Doroteo Mario Alvarado, and brother, Jose Rene Alvarado.
Mario Alvarado is survived by his mother, Juanita P. Alvarado; sister, Dora Estella Alvarado, three children, Roberto "Bobby" (Stacy) Zuniga, Jr., Marisa Alvarado (Dr. J. Aaron) Cook, Marina Annette Alvarado; three grandchildren, Joshua Zuniga, Christian Cook, Siena Cook; and brother-in-law, Jose Antonio "Tony" (Sonia) Padron.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2024, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a 6 p.m. rosary at Memorial Funeral Home, 208 E. Canton in Edinburg. Funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 3, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Edinburg, followed by interment at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Edinburg.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to his long-term PCP, Dr. Jesus A. Zavaleta and staff for their exceptional care, along with McAllen Texas Oncology Clinic, MD Anderson, McAllen VA Clinic, High Point Home Health, TVNS Provider Services, and Allstate Hospice.
Funeral services are entrusted to Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mario A. Alvarado's memory to: American Cancer Society.