Jesus Salvador (Jesse) Alfaro passed on to his heavenly reward on March 16, 2022 at age 87. He joins his beloved wife Isabel. His prayers have been answered; Thanks be to God.

Jesse was born in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico in 1934 and immigrated with his family to Dilley, Tx, U.S.A. in 1940. They settled in San Antonio, Texas on Leona St.  He attended John B. Hood Elementary, Washington Irving Junior High, and was a proud graduate of Louis W. Fox Technical and Vocational H.S. (Fox Tech).  He briefly attended St. Mary's University, but he left due to family financial hardships.

He worked from the age of 8, shining shoes and sweeping at barbershops along the San Antonio River. As a teenager, he learned meat-cutting at Cabrera's Meat Market. In 1954, he started at Handy Andy Supermarkets as a meat cutter. Through the 1960's and 70's he advanced to Assistant Meat Market Manager, then Manager in larger and larger stores until he ran the largest meat market. Along the way he delivered telephone books and worked at a friend's neighborhood market to make extra money. He ran his own gas station for a year and a half.  Then in 1978, he started over at HEB Supermarkets as a meat cutter.  He advanced quickly and was named director of HEB's new central meat processing plant. He earned the opportunity to manage individual supermarkets, then regions, then districts of stores until, despite the lack of a college degree, he was named HEB's first Hispanic Vice President of Store Operations.  After 13 years at HEB, Jesse joined Walmart to expand operations outside of the continental U.S. He spearheaded the establishment of grocery services at Walmart Supercenters in Mexico, Canada, and Puerto Rico and retired after 11 years. He consulted in the food and meat industry until 2017, and retired again at age 81. Over a long career, he was happy to mentor many eager employees.

A devoted husband and father, Jesse gave to the community wherever he could. He led PTA's at Lamar Elementary, Hawthorne Junior High, and Incarnate Word HS. He coached Little League, served as a cantor at San Fernando Cathedral, and delivered day-old bread to food distribution sites. As a proud and active member of the Fox Tech Ex-Students Association, he supported scholarships and pressed for improved educational opportunities at his alma mater. In his retirement, he helped care for his siblings who suffered health issues. He was privately very generous to those in need.

Jesse loved traveling the world with his beloved wife, Isabel. He loved deep sea fishing with his children and friends.  He was an avid hunter and a voracious reader. In his retirement he learned woodworking and made furniture for neighbors, friends, and family.  He truly appreciated opera and Mexican music. He loved cooking for family, specializing in potato salad, menudo, ham, and grilled steaks. He didn't drink or smoke, and seldom cursed, nor did he disparage those who did--mostly.

Jesus (Jesse) Alfaro was preceded in death by Isabel, his childhood sweetheart wife of 63 years, and by his dear daughter Elizabeth (Betsy).  He is survived by sisters Felicitas (Fela) and Soledad (Chole), a brother William, three sons, Albert (Lucy), Michael (Tere), and Charlie (Elizabeth), and beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

The family thanks dear friends Willie Benitez, Barb and Chuck Ritzke, Dan and Peggy Harkins, Teresa Barrios and Jim Ogden, Tom and Tina Corser, Greg and Rocio Souquette, and neighbors Hugh and Diane Dorsett and John and Pat Pruitt, for their tender ministering, especially during the past 6 years. Thanks also to family physician Dr. Abe Rodriguez for decades of loving, expert care and to the staff of The Village at Incarnate Word and Christus Santa Rosa Hospice Care for their service and compassion.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Visitation will begin at 5:00pm

Rosary to be recited at 7:00pm

The Angelus Funeral Home

1119 N. St. Mary's, San Antonio, TX 78215

Thursday, March 31, 2022

Funeral Mass will be offered at 10:00am

St. Dominic Catholic Church

5919 Ingram Rd., SAT 78228

Burial to follow

San Fernando Archdiocesan Cemetery #2

746 Castroville Rd., SAT, 78237

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the

Glen Biggs Institute for Dementia and Alzheimer's Research

at UTSA Health Sciences Center