Obituary for Deacon William Alvarado
HOPEWELL JUNCTION – Deacon William Alvarado, 85, died peacefully on June 19, 2022, at MidHudson Regional Hospital.
Born in Brooklyn on January 10, 1937, Bill was the son of the late Raymond and Adele (Arrigo) Alvarado. He proudly served in the US Air Force as a flight line mechanic in Strategic Air Command. He then moved to Glens Falls and travelled as a professional umpire for two years in the New York/Penn League.
On August 29, 1964, at St. Alphonsus Church in Glens Falls, he married Jean (Bonan) Alvarado who survives at home after 58 years of marriage. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Susan Doyle, Mary Rosso, Linda Warner, and Michael and Martha Bonan; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; and his St. Columba Parish family.
In 1963, Bill completed a Wards machine accounting program in Albany, and moved in 1964 to Dutchess County to work at IBM for over 30 years until his retirement. In the late 1960’s, he joined the Knights of Columbus in Poughkeepsie. In 1970, he and his wife moved to Hopewell Junction and became active in St. Denis-St. Columba Parish as well as the St. Mary’s Council of the Knights of Columbus. He became a 4th Degree Knight in 2011.
In 1978 under Msgr. Meehan, Bill entered the Diaconate program for the Archdiocese of New York at Mt. St. Alphonsus, Esopus, NY, and was ordained a Deacon in 1980 by Terence Cardinal Cooke. After ordination, his ministry included visiting patients in Vassar Brothers Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, and area nursing homes, as well as the usual ongoing St. Columba Parish needs under Bishop Dominick. In 1991, Deacon Bill completed an additional 2-year study program at Dunwoodie for preaching faculties. In 2005, he was afforded the honor of offering the Deacon's 25th Anniversary Mass homily at Dunwoodie.
In 1985, Deacon Bill assisted Fr. Donovan at Green Haven Prison for one year before transferring to Fishkill Correctional Facility for four years as assistant Chaplain to Fr. Ted Parker. In the 1990's after organizing a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, former Yugoslavia, he ran weekend retreats at St. Aloysius Novitiate. He also taught Religious Education classes (together with Jean) from K- 8th grade at St. Columba and coached Senior Little League baseball for 4 years. From 2006 to 2022, he served as an MTA Transit and Police Chaplain working out of District #7 in Beacon.
During his time as a Deacon at St. Columba Church, he also organized the annual Children's Memorial Mass and the annual Divine Mercy celebration. He handled all parish baptismal requests and was a certified Bereavement Facilitator.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 23rd, from 3- 7 pm at St. Columba Church, 835 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, June 24th, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, at 10 am at St. Columba Church, 835 Route 82, Hopewell Junction followed by burial at St. Denis Cemetery with military honors.
Donations may be made in Deacon Bill’s memory to St. Columba Church or St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, PO Box 428, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533.. Arrangements are under the direction of the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc. Please visit his Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.
Born in Brooklyn on January 10, 1937, Bill was the son of the late Raymond and Adele (Arrigo) Alvarado. He proudly served in the US Air Force as a flight line mechanic in Strategic Air Command. He then moved to Glens Falls and travelled as a professional umpire for two years in the New York/Penn League.
On August 29, 1964, at St. Alphonsus Church in Glens Falls, he married Jean (Bonan) Alvarado who survives at home after 58 years of marriage. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Susan Doyle, Mary Rosso, Linda Warner, and Michael and Martha Bonan; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; and his St. Columba Parish family.
In 1963, Bill completed a Wards machine accounting program in Albany, and moved in 1964 to Dutchess County to work at IBM for over 30 years until his retirement. In the late 1960’s, he joined the Knights of Columbus in Poughkeepsie. In 1970, he and his wife moved to Hopewell Junction and became active in St. Denis-St. Columba Parish as well as the St. Mary’s Council of the Knights of Columbus. He became a 4th Degree Knight in 2011.
In 1978 under Msgr. Meehan, Bill entered the Diaconate program for the Archdiocese of New York at Mt. St. Alphonsus, Esopus, NY, and was ordained a Deacon in 1980 by Terence Cardinal Cooke. After ordination, his ministry included visiting patients in Vassar Brothers Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, and area nursing homes, as well as the usual ongoing St. Columba Parish needs under Bishop Dominick. In 1991, Deacon Bill completed an additional 2-year study program at Dunwoodie for preaching faculties. In 2005, he was afforded the honor of offering the Deacon's 25th Anniversary Mass homily at Dunwoodie.
In 1985, Deacon Bill assisted Fr. Donovan at Green Haven Prison for one year before transferring to Fishkill Correctional Facility for four years as assistant Chaplain to Fr. Ted Parker. In the 1990's after organizing a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, former Yugoslavia, he ran weekend retreats at St. Aloysius Novitiate. He also taught Religious Education classes (together with Jean) from K- 8th grade at St. Columba and coached Senior Little League baseball for 4 years. From 2006 to 2022, he served as an MTA Transit and Police Chaplain working out of District #7 in Beacon.
During his time as a Deacon at St. Columba Church, he also organized the annual Children's Memorial Mass and the annual Divine Mercy celebration. He handled all parish baptismal requests and was a certified Bereavement Facilitator.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 23rd, from 3- 7 pm at St. Columba Church, 835 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, June 24th, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, at 10 am at St. Columba Church, 835 Route 82, Hopewell Junction followed by burial at St. Denis Cemetery with military honors.
Donations may be made in Deacon Bill’s memory to St. Columba Church or St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, PO Box 428, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533.. Arrangements are under the direction of the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc. Please visit his Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.