Janie Rojas Alvarado of Victoria, Texas, passed away on October 14th in Cedar Park, Texas. Janie was born on March 24, 1942 in Levelland, Texas to the late Juan and Teresa Rojas. She graduated from Victoria High School in 1960. Janie was married to Jesse Alvarado on February 24, 1968 in Victoria, Texas.
Janie is preceded in death by her eldest brother Isaac and her parents Juan and Teresa.
Janie is survived by her beloved husband of 55 years, Jesse P. Alvarado, their first daughter Laura and her husband Robert Broussard of Austin, their second daughter Julie and her husband Maurice Weeks, III of Moorestown, New Jersey; her maternal Aunt, Esther Mata of Alice, Texas; her sisters Stella Veliz of Leander, Cruz King of Austin, and brothers Roque Rojas of Pflugerville, Eli Rojas of Austin, and Isaac Rojas of Goliad; her grandchildren, Diego Thomas, Alexander Manuel, Carina Jane, and Stefan Patrick; and many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Janie’s career plans had always included nursing and as a young teenager she volunteered as a candy striper at Citizens Memorial Hospital in Victoria. She graduated as a Registered Nurse from the Lilli Jolly School of Nursing in Houston, Texas in 1963. There, she met many like-minded colleagues, many of whom remained her life-long friends. Janie loved children, so it was natural that pediatric nursing was to be her most cherished specialty and as a new RN, her first job was at Texas Children’s Hospital at the Houston Medical Center. Janie’s youthful zest and the lure of adventure led her to the city of Manhattan where she was hired at the Columbia Presbyterian University Hospital. After New York City she spent the next few years living and working in Denver at Colorado General Hospital. After Denver Janie returned to Victoria and it was then that she met her future husband, Jesse. They were married and started a family in their mutual hometown of Victoria. Janie was one of few Hispanic women to gain employment as an instructor at the Victoria College. It was there that she dedicated the majority of her career— over 28 years— to teaching hundreds of students who would join the nursing profession. Upon retirement Janie and Jesse built a home in Liberty Hill, Texas to be near their daughters and grandchildren. Janie loved traveling to Mexico and abroad with Jesse, hosting family gatherings, gardening, and shopping for antiques. In her later years she even created a small business reselling vintage China. Janie’s greatest love was spending time with her family, especially her four grandchildren Diego, Alex, Carina, and Stefan.
Visitation services will be held at Rosewood Funeral Home on Thursday, October 26 at 5:00pm with Rosary to be recited at 7:00pm. Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Sorrows on Friday, October 27 at 9:00am with burial service to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Flowers may be sent to Rosewood Funeral Home, Victoria, Texas. Memories may be shared at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/victoria-tx/janie-alvarado-11499492
