Born in Riverside, CA to Pauline and the late Julian Alvarez on May 5, 1962, she graduated from Rubidoux High School in 1980 and completed the LVN program at Riverside Community College’s highly acclaimed School of Nursing in 1984.
Julie began what would be a life-long nursing career working with terminally ill children at Friendly Hills Medical Center in Orange County, eventually moving on to Tri-Cities Industrial Medical Center in Corona, where she would meet her husband, Fabio F. Duarte. They married on June 6, 1987.
In 1989, she started working for Alta Vista Healthcare & Wellness Nursing Home and remained there for 13 years, making lifelong friends and helping the lives of many who were unable to help themselves. After her battle with breast cancer began in 2000, and a year of life-halting chemotherapy and radiation, she slowed things down in her working life to focus on her own health. Once in remission, she continued working as a Home Health Field Nurse up until a month before her passing. Helping people was her passion, and she was amazing at what she did.
In addition to a fulfilling career in the medical field, Julie was an active member of River of Life Christian Center, and gave her life to the Lord in August of 1997. At River of Life, she took it upon herself to begin the church’s annual Vacation Bible School, a Bible-focused summer day camp for children. In addition to her involvement with the church’s Praise Team, Youth Camp and Children’s Church, she and her husband and children were integral members of the River of Life Drama Team.
Julie surrounded herself with family and friends (and loved being around children), always opening her heart and home to strangers and welcoming them into her extended family. She loved life, going places, seeing new things, and having large gatherings at her home, creating lasting and loving memories for all who knew her. She will be sorely missed.
Julie leaves behind her husband, Fabio, and their five children: Cecilia, Diana, and Fabio A. Duarte of Riverside, CA; Sandra Chiti of Las Vegas, NV; and Jennifer Duarte of Santa Monica, CA. She is also survived by her three young grandchildren, Dylan, Dominic, and Derrick Chiti; and by her mother, Pauline; her sister, Yolanda; her brothers, Juan and Miguel; and her beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A viewing will be held at 12:00 p.m. at Acheson & Graham Garden of Prayer Mortuary on Sunday, February 15th. Burial will be held at Green Acres Cemetery on Monday, February 16th at 11:30 a.m.
If you would like to send flowers, please send them to Acheson & Graham Garden of Prayer Mortuary, 7944 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA 92504, on Sunday, February 15th.
In lieu of or in addition to flowers, you can make a donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in Julie’s memory by visiting give.BCRFcure.org and selecting “Dedicate my donation in honor or memory of someone.” The honoree is Julie Duarte and the recipient is Fabio Duarte, [email protected].
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