Priscilla “Pat” L. (Alvarez) Parker

The sun and the moon. Ice cream and cake. Song and dance. Some things in this world exist as perfect pairs, complementing each other so well that their combination is greater than the sum of their parts. Perhaps it is fitting that on February 22, 2022 – a special day celebrating “twos” – Priscilla “Pat” L. (Alvarez) Parker (94) of Collinsville, Illinois, joined her perfect partner of 75 years, John T. Parker, for their first jitterbug in heaven.

Priscilla “Pat” L. (Alvarez) Parker, 94, of Collinsville, Illinois, known as “Aunt Pat” to many, was born on March 21, 1927, in Cherryvale, Kansas, to Spanish immigrant parents. She was raised in East St. Louis, Illinois, at 40th and Waverly, the oldest of five siblings and the only girl, which earned her a cherished position in the family. A graduate of East St. Louis Senior High School, Pat met the love of her life – John T. “Uncle P” Parker – and they married soon after on August 9, 1947. Pat was a loving wife, homemaker, and part owner of Roman’s Children’s Shop in Loisel Village. She was an active member of Queen City #697 Order of the Eastern Star, Al Sihan Temple #29 Daughters of the Nile, Collinsville Women’s Club, the Friends of the Collinsville Historical Museum, Anderson Hospital Auxiliary (Maryville), Past President of the Wednesday Evening Club, and a member of the Kappa Tau Chapter of the Lambda Sigma Alpha Sorority. Together, Aunt Pat and Uncle P traveled all over the United States – Hawaii, California, Arizona – as this duo was always side-by-side, hand-in-hand.

Aunt Pat was a lover of games – Scrabble, bingo, word search puzzles – and could complete any Family Feud or America Says puzzle in record time. However, her real joy was sharing her love of games with her family members, teaching them Scrabble tips using her dictionary-like brain and often gifting decades-old board games she knew would continue to bring her beloved family members together with the name “Parker” and the year a game was purchased written somewhere on the box. She loved having sleepovers, decorating her home perfectly for every holiday, and gifting Krisp Kringle chocolate Santas along with cards and presents at Christmas. An exquisite chef, Aunt Pat’s deviled eggs were always a holiday staple along with whatever new recipe she decided to try out. And, of course, no child in the family could walk past Aunt Pat without her discreetly slipping them a crisp $1 dollar bill just for being adorable.

Every gift Aunt Pat gave was a gift from the heart, but the true gift was the constant love and support she and Uncle P gave to every family member. Pat’s greatest loves in her life were her husband – who was her best friend, confidant, and partner since they met in 1945 – her brothers and sisters-in-law, and her nieces and nephews (and their respective families), whom she loved and dearly cherished over the years. She also had many extended nieces and nephews that were very dear to her. It is Alvarez family tradition to bid each other a “Spanish goodbye” whenever leaving, being sure to give hugs, kisses, and kind words to every member of the family before departing. In this way, a “Spanish goodbye” is not about saying, “Farewell;” it is about letting your family know you love them and, because love is unending, that you will never be apart. Aunt Pat and Uncle P were always among the last to leave a family party, and their love will surely endure.

Aunt Pat was preceded in death by her:

• Husband, John T. Parker
• Parents, Jose M., Sr., and Maria I. (nee Rodriguez) Alvarez
• Brothers:
  • Jose M. Alvarez Jr.
  • James E. Alvarez Sr.
  • Angelo A. Alvarez Sr.
  • Eugene Alvarez
• Sister-in-law, Shirley M. Alvarez
• Nephew Terry J. Alvarez

Surviving are her:

• Sisters-in-law:
  • Shirley Rose (Robert) Mohrman
  • Joyce Alvarez
• Nieces:
  • Sherry (Jim) Alvarez Mourey
  • Laura Alvarez
  • Lynne (Jon) Alvarez Grindstaff
  • Pamela (Donald) Alvarez Wilhold
• Nephews:
  • Jose M. Alvarez, III
  • Anthony J. (Donna) Alvarez, Sr.
  • James E. (Judy) Alvarez, Jr.
  • Robert C. (Patty) Alvarez
  • Michael J. (Karen) Alvarez
  • Angelo A. (Mary) Alvarez, Jr.
  • Eric J. (Teresa) Alvarez
• Many loving and adorable great-nieces and great-nephews, great-great-nieces and nephews
• Cousins Joe Artime (and family) and Marylee Kicielinski (and family)
• Her goddaughters, Sharon Medeiros and Pamela Drescher
• Her beloved neighbors, Diane and Bill Warhoover

Memorials: Memorials may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children – St. Louis and the American Heart Association.

Visitation: Visitation Saturday, March 5, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., at Kurrus Funeral Home in Belleville, Illinois.

Funeral: Funeral service will be held Saturday, March 5, 2022, at 1:00 p.m., at Kurrus Funeral Home, with Deacon Jim Law officiating. Entombment will follow at Lake View Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Fairview Heights, IL