Elvira Isabel Hernandez Jarvis

Elvira Isabel Hernandez Chaparro Jarvis was born in Ciénaga, Magdalena, Colombia, South America, on July 23rd, 1935, and was received in Heaven on October 12th, 2024. Her transition was beautiful, as she left her earthly body, surrounded by what she most loved, her family, angels, Saints, and the Holy Spirit. The last words she heard were the Our Father, Hail Mary and Anima Christi being prayed.

She had stoically battled cancer for 17 years and along the way, Alzheimer’s made its way, too. But it did not keep her from staying positive and offering sage advice, with a twinkle in her eye. Her sense of humor and laughter lightened every room she entered. She never met a stranger and loved babies, animals and nature. If she visited your home and saw a plant that was struggling, she would let you know if it needed more water and sun or the opposite. Elvira had a beautiful voice that belied her age, and her children and grandchildren fondly remember her singing lullabies as she rocked and patted them to sleep. She was always very proud that her skin was not as wrinkled, as someone of her age, and she loved to keep her nails long and polished, as she said they made a woman’s hands look elegant. She never left the house without her lipstick on, and could put it on, perfectly, without a mirror.

As a young woman, she entered the nursing Internship program at Hospital de Barranquilla, under the charge of nuns who managed the hospital. After special training, she became a surgical nurse in the operating room. She later went to work at Clínica del Prado, where she met her husband, a patient, Walter Maurice Jarvis, who was Director of Karl C. Parrish School. at the time. Upon arriving in the United States, she attended Eastern Mennonite College in Harrisonburg,VA, and they then moved to Miami, FL where she felt more at home in tropical weather. In 1965, her husband was offered the opportunity of employment with the School District of Greenville County, and the family moved to the Upstate. Except for a few years in Florida, she lived the rest of her life in the Upstate. In Greenville, she first worked at the original St. Francis Hospital, then, the original Greenville General. She also worked at Barge Memorial Hospital, on Bob Jones University Campus. She always had an entrepreneurial and creative spirit. After retiring, she took painting classes and gifted her grandchildren and great grandchildren with her little paintings. She also took a course in cosmetology, and another in wedding planning. She loved to crochet, a skill learned from her maternal grandmother. Elvira also liked to sew and do alterations. She was well read and had beautiful handwriting. Her family still keeps her letters and cards that they received from her, over the years.

All Holidays and birthdays were important to her. She would ask what month it was so she would know whose birthday it was. Each family member’s birthday was as important as the other. Elvira always wanted to make sure the occasion was recorded with a picture. She knew the day would come when she was no longer in her earthly body, and she wanted there to be pictures along with the memories. She kept her Colombian traditions, culture, cuisine, but also incorporated those of her adopted country. She learned to make biscuits, turkey and dressing, pumpkin pie, macaroni and cheese casserole and deviled eggs. She loved the tradition of Thanksgiving, and picking a live a tree for Christmas. She was a gracious and generous hostess and even after dementia came into play, she did not forget to offer anyone visiting something to eat or drink, and would prompt family members to offer, insistently. When she would visit SC family, she always brought some trinket or gift and it was always something she knew was that person’s favorite.

Elvira loved family immensely and the feeling was reciprocated by her children, stepchildren, great and grandchildren, as well as in laws, nieces and nephews. Her friendships were decades old, and when she had been able, she loved Sunday afternoon visits to friends’ homes. She was a spiritual, God loving, God fearing, praying woman. She took life in stride, knowing she was not the one in control. She put things in His hands and did not allow stress to overtake her. She would ask God to bless her family members, friends and even strangers. She always prayed for the homeless and in doing so made everyone more aware of how blessed and fortunate we were. Her family continues that prayer, in their own homes.

She is survived by her five children Angelique Jarvis-Simmons (Terry), Carleton “Kaqui, D’Arcy, Phillippa and Alan (Madelein) Jarvis, and step children Helen “Vickie” Jarvis-Desmond (John) and Charles “Charlie” (Vikke) Jarvis; grandchildren Natalia Thompson (Gwyn), Alexandra Gabela (Alexis), Michael, Hector (Shelby), Frederick “Freddy”, Mathias Jarvis, Amy and David (Krystal) Hurtado, and great grandchildren Madalin and Gabriel Thompson, Ziah and Cassius Jarvis; the Desmond, Jarvis and Thompson step grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband, Walter Jarvis; twin brother Gilberto Hernandez Chaparro; parents Dr. Nicolás Hernández Vergara and Rosalbina Chaparro Rodríguez; half siblings, Nicolasa, Lisaralde and Antonio Hernandez; and stepson Thomas (Tommy) Jarvis, and his son, Clemson Walter.

A scholarship will be started in her honor to aid students pursuing a nursing career whose second language is English.

A visitation for Elvira will be held Thursday, October 17, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 1 Pine Knoll Drive, Greenville, SC 29609.

A funeral mass will occur Friday, October 18, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 1209 Brushy Creek Rd, Taylors, SC 29687 followed by a committal service at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, SC 29609.