Obituary of Mary Angelina Alvarez Beckham

Our beloved Mary Angelina Alvarez Beckham, age 86, was called home to our Heavenly Father on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Monico Alvarez and Angelina Moreno; her siblings, Beatrice Cavazos, Dolores Gonzales, Eleanor Messick, John Alvarez, Lucia Hartman, Thomas Alvarez, and Luisa Alvarez.

Mary is survived by her sister, Esther Mills, numerous nieces and nephews, and other loving family and friends. 

It is bittersweet when someone you love, that has lived a long and incredible life, passes. But it is with such profound honor that we get to share pieces of this wonderful life of our beloved aunt, sister and friend, Mary Angelina Alvarez-Beckham who died peacefully, in her sleep, Tuesday, March 28th, in San Antonio, Texas.  Aunt Mari, Angie, was born to Monico and Angelina Alvarez on April 20th, 1936, in San Benito, Texas.  She was the youngest of nine children and is survived by her sister Esther A. Mills, and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her siblings:  Eleanor Messick, Maria Luisa Alvarez, Tomas & Juan Alvarez, Lucia Hartman, Dolores Gonzalez, and Beatrice Cavazos.

At a young age, Angie, had a fierce passion for her family, her faith and education. She was Valedictorian in 1951 of Sacred Heart School in San Benito, Texas. When she was about 17, she decided to follow her faith and left San Benito for the convent in San Antonio.  She attended Mount Sacred Heart School where she finished high school and continued her dedication and became a nun in 1957 with the order of Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. She remained a part of the order for almost 26 years. While in the convent she was put in charge of mentoring and teaching at the Mount Sacred Heart boys boarding school. When her mother became less mobile and then ill, Angie devoted herself as her main caregiver until she passed.

Her intense love of education and people in need led her to pursue her dream of teaching. She left the convent and went on to the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in July, 1966 and later her Master’s degree in Education from our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, August 1969.  She moved to Austin to teach at Kocurek Elementary School and later became a counselor and principal at San Jose Catholic School.  She also taught at St. Edward’s University State Migrant Program, during the summer months.  She and Mother Teresa of Calcutta carried up the gifts of bread and wine at a Mass in Texas in 1976. Angie loved travel and was able to have different cultural experiences of her faith through her travels to Rome and the Holy Land. 

Throughout her years she remained loyal to her faith and became very active with St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church in Austin, Texas. She was a Eucharistic and Stephen Ministry minister and an active member of a Small Christian Community in which she enthusiastically hosted at least half of the by-weekly meetings for over 13 years. She was a teacher of ESL English as a Second Language and attended mass daily whenever she could. She gave generously to the Church and different missions, and both worked for, and volunteered part time, for Catholic Charities. She openly shared her home with and for prayer groups and days of Reflection. She was ecumenical in her approach to others which was evident in her helping with the care of children at a Baptist Church while the parents’ attended services. She lived out the Gospel call to help the poor and homeless by taking in people needing a home for the moment on several occasions. She had a great love and respect for the Holy Cross Priests and attended three of the deacons’ ordinations to the priesthood at Notre Dame and attended Fr. Bill (William) Wach's consecration as a Bishop, in Tallahassee, Florida. She was faith-filled and loving to both young and old. She is described by those that knew and loved her as incredibly generous, kind, calm and a person of action with prayer. She loved gardening, animals, children and sharing coffee, a meal and ideas about life and faith with those around her.

Recitation of Holy Rosary will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Memorial Mass on Friday, July 21, 2023 at St. Ignatius Martry Catholic Church, 126 W. Oltorf St., Austin, Texas. 

A celebration of life reception to share moments, photos, food and fellowship will be after the mass at: 

MAA Western Oaks Apartmant Comlex Cabana @ 9101 La Cresada Dr, Austin, TX 78749 (please park in the area of the cabana or take the gate to the right, code #8801, and park by building 29)

In lieu of flowers – Aunt Mari was incredibly generous. She would love any donations in her honor to a church, a homeless shelter, a pet shelter or any organization that helps children such as your local orphanages, or scholarships for students.  She was/is greatly loved by her friends and family.  She is missed.