Sonia E. Alvarez, age 85, passed away on September 8, 2026, at the home of her daughter in Spanish Fort, Alabama, surrounded by the love of her family. A longtime resident of Miami, Florida, Sonia lived a life defined by strength, perseverance, hard work, and an enduring devotion to her family.
Sonia was born on April 5, 1941, in Santiago, Cuba, to Jamie and Augustina Contreras. In 1957, at just 16 years old, she bravely left her native Cuba and began a new chapter of her life in New York City.
First and foremost, Sonia was a devoted homemaker and mother. She also worked as a waitress and later retired from Rockefeller Center in New York City. Never one to shy away from hard work or a new opportunity, Sonia went on to become a restaurateur and entrepreneur in northern New Jersey.
Throughout her life, Sonia found happiness in simple pleasures. She loved gardening, spending time at the beach, and taking rides to explore the cities and neighborhoods around her. New York and Miami both held special places in her heart, as she called each home for many years. Sonia was a member of the Catholic Church and practiced her faith while living in the Miami area.
Above all else, Sonia loved and cared deeply for her family. She was a woman of remarkable strength and resilience who endured many of life’s hardships while continuing to move forward. Her determination, independence, and love for those closest to her will remain an important part of her legacy.
Sonia is survived by her children, Denise Valencia, Angela Gayle, Luis Alvarez, and Ogniel Alvarez; her grandchildren, Jason Brizuela, Kristi Brizuela, Sonya Mahoney, BG Getsinger, Elizabeth Alvarez, Allison Alvarez, Milan Alvarez, Bella Brown, and O’niel Alvarez; and her siblings, Vilma, Roberto, Mirtha, and Raquel Contreras.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, Luis Alvarez; her brother, Jamie Contreras; her parents, Jamie and Augustina Contreras; and many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, and other family members who passed before her.
Sonia’s life took her from Santiago, Cuba, to New York, New Jersey, Miami, and ultimately to Alabama, where she spent her final days surrounded by family. Through every chapter, she remained a survivor—a woman whose strength, perseverance, and devotion to her family carried her through a lifetime of change and challenge.
Her family will remember her not only for the hardships she overcame, but for the life she built, the family she loved, and the memories she leaves behind.
Family and friends are invited to gather for a Visitation on Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Memorial Mass celebrating Sonia’s life will be at 10:00 AM on Friday, September 18, 2026, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 711 College Avenue, Daphne, AL, with Reverend Johnny Savoie as celebrant. A graveside service will follow at Belforest Catholic Cemetery.
May Sonia rest in eternal peace, and may her memory live on through the generations of her family she loved so dearly.
Expressions of condolence for the family may be made at www.hughesfh.com. Hughes Funeral Home, 26209 Pollard Road, Daphne, AL, is assisting the family.
Sonia Alvarez was a lovely, amazing, hard working, and proud Latina woman. She was born and raised in Cuba as the communist guerrillas rose to power under Castro.. Sonia and her family bravely served in the resistance, but in the end fled to the US for safety… She was able to find her way to New Jersey and an ex-pat Cuban community and get to work re-building her life. She was very blessed to re-marry and have her two beautiful daughters, Angela and Denise. While working at a famous New Jersey Club, Sonia met the love her life, the owner, Luis Alvarez. .Luis fell madly in love with the young and beautiful. Sonia. After a whirl-wind courtship, Luis married Sonia and adopted her daughters as his own. Together they expanded Sonia’s family to include her two handsome sons, Luis, Jr and O”niel.. We met Sonia when her son. O’niel, became engaged to our daughter Alisha. Sonia talked endlessly about her wonderful sons and daughters. She was also very proud of being from Cuba and proud of her brothers and sisters, whom she helped escape from Cuba and come to live in the US.. She was a very hard working and proud Latin woman. It was a joy to listen to her talk about her life and all of her adventures. Sonia’s bright light will be missed, but we know she is in heaven now and at peace!
Aunt Sonia,
You are now resting with Christ, the King of Kings. I know that you are happier than ever, rejoicing in His presence and free from all suffering.
You are no longer suffering. You are now in the presence of your Savior and Christ the King. Until we meet again, you will remain in our hearts and in our memories.
“To be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:8
Sarita, Kol, Matthew and Samantha
To my Abuelita,
Always giving of the shirt off your back (literally). You would always give us your clothes and jewelry as children. I will never forget the long summer spent at your house with you in Miami. We tormented you every day. I love that you always spoke your mind and truth. I will miss your long emoji text messages. You will be missed.
Love Cha
To my favorite Abuela,
I love you abuela and will never forget the love you had for me throughout my life. You are the reason we all know how to speak our mind but also know how to have fun. Our wonderful family is all here because of you.
Thank you for always being there for us and loving us unconditionally. Now, I will always remember you for those fun mischievous laughs. Love you always abuela.
Sadness invades me very strong, my godmother is gone, my second mother because I always act as such, I love you and I will always love you, thank you for your love for me and my family. Being away at this time hurts. Thank you godmother for everything
Thank you, Godmother, for making it possible for our family to come together; thank you for giving me wonderful cousins. We will always hold you in our hearts. Your family from Cuba.
Thinking of you and your family during this difficult time.
Sincere condolences.
In Loving Memory of My Beautiful Friend, Sonia
Some people come into our lives and, no matter how much time we are given with them, leave a mark on our hearts that will remain forever. Sonia was one of those people for me.
I was blessed to meet Sonia many years ago at a reunion in Miami. One of her sons and I had gone to school together in New Jersey, and she attended the reunion with him. After all those years, I finally had the opportunity to meet her—and from the moment we did, there was an instant connection. It felt as though I had known her my entire life.
Sonia had such a beautiful way about her. She was motherly and protective, yet at the same time fun, youthful, and full of life. That combination made our friendship incredibly special to me. She was sincere, loving, caring, and always willing to give me her advice and opinions—and believe me, Sonia definitely had her opinions! But they always came from a place of love. She wanted the people she cared about to be happy, protected, and guided in the right direction.
At the center of Sonia’s life were God and family. She spoke endlessly and proudly about her children and grandchildren. You could hear the admiration in her voice and feel the enormous love she had for each of them. Being a mother and grandmother wasn’t simply part of who Sonia was—it was woven into her heart and soul.
Over the years, I was fortunate to experience that same motherly love from her. She watched over me, guided me, encouraged me, and cared about what was happening in my life. I will forever treasure our long conversations about life, the advice we shared, our fun outings, the laughter, and all the memories we created together.
Some of my favorite memories are the simple ones—having Sonia over and cooking for her. She loved when I cooked for her, and I loved having her in my home. She didn’t just become close to me; she immediately connected with my family as well. Before long, Sonia wasn’t simply my friend anymore. She had become part of our family.
That is the kind of person Sonia was. She had a way of entering your life and making herself at home in your heart.
I am deeply saddened knowing there will be no more long conversations, no more outings, no more meals together, and no more hearing her loving words of advice. But I am incredibly grateful that God allowed our paths to cross that day in Miami. What began with a chance meeting became a friendship and a bond that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Sonia, you were a blessing in my life. Thank you for loving me, looking out for me, laughing with me, guiding me, and loving my family as your own.
You will be deeply missed, but you will never be forgotten. Your love, your laughter, your beautiful motherly spirit, and the memories we shared will always have a special place in my heart.
Until we meet again, my beautiful friend. May you rest peacefully in God’s loving arms. ❤️
Ángela,
Mi pésame por la pérdida de tu mami.
Se que los recuerdos que te dejo te van a consolar!
Cariños
Nilda