Resfa Lopera Alvarez

Resfa Lopera Alvarez of St. Anthony Village was born September 7, 1933, and entered her eternal life on February 21, 2022, at age 88. Resfa Lopera grew up on a farm in Yolombo, Colombia. The eldest of 12 siblings, she spent her time attending school and helping her mother Josefina (Pepis) take care of the children. The family eventually moved to Medellin, Colombia, where she married Carlos Alvarez on July 14, 1956. She gave birth to three daughters, Gloria, Patricia (Patti) and Maria, and moved to North Minneapolis in 1965 to pursue the American dream.Starting with modest means, Resfa and Carlos lived with their three daughters, and Resfa's siblings Donald (Gogo) and Margarita (Marga) in a two-bedroom apartment off Broadway and Lyndale. The family eventually moved to their home in St. Anthony Village in 1972. She sent her daughters to St. Charles Borromeo School where she also attended daily mass for over 40 years. She was devoted to her faith and made sure that faith was passed down to her family.Resfa worked at the Old Dutch Factory, not far from her home in St. Anthony, for over 30 years where she frequently worked extra hours and gave breaks to her co-workers. Every year at Halloween, she would give out individual sized bags of chips to the neighborhood children and from her house, now owned by granddaughter Jessica (Jessi) Wagner, you can still catch hints of salty potato chips. A staple in the neighborhood, Resfa enjoyed going on long walks in St. Anthony to admire the flowers. She enjoyed wandering a little outside of the neighborhood to feed the ducks at Moore Lake in Fridley. Resfa and Carlos frequently welcomed new friends who had immigrated to the United States and helped them get on their feet. Their door was always open, and their chosen family continued to grow into a vibrant Latin community that remains close to this day. Resfa was a surrogate mother to all who entered her home and was a joyful, hospitable, caring and giving matriarch. Resfa enjoyed volunteering and spent many years visiting the retired nuns at The Home of the Good Shepherd. Each year, Resfa and Carlos put together a Christmas party with caroling, BINGO and a surprise visit from Santa. Their garage was always full of supplies, ready to be donated to a family in need.Over time, Resfa and Carlos were blessed with many grandchildren that became the center of their world. Abuela's house became a year-round day care with children running around the backyard. As the kids grew up, Resfa and Carlos were always on the road attending sporting events, sometimes multiple in a single day. In the age before smartphones, Carlos could get you anywhere in the Twin Cities metro area. They became beloved staples at St. Odilia, Totino-Grace and Cretin-Derham Hall, known to their grandchildren's friends and other cheering parents. Resfa and Carlos loved sharing meals and laughs with family and friends. They made a point to get everyone together to celebrate birthdays, weddings and, perhaps most importantly, just because. They loved to dance, drink wine and sneak treats when they thought no one was looking. They had an extensive network of family friends with whom they loved to throw parties and travel the world. While she was a modest and humble woman, Resfa was also silly, sassy, loved to entertain her guests and make sure all were well fed. While their life blossomed in the United States, Resfa and Carlos remained close to her family in Colombia. She was beloved by her many nieces and nephews and loved making trips home to visit her siblings. She made a point to keep her two worlds connected and maintain her Colombian heritage and culture in Minnesota. On January 23, 2012, Resfa lost the love of her life suddenly when Carlos passed away. She was devastated but continued to hold her family close. That family continued to grow and Resfa was blessed with many great-grandchildren that were instantly drawn to their bis-abuela. Her face would light up anytime she was around one of her new babies and she was so proud to see her grandchildren become parents. Resfa's memory lives on in her given and chosen family. She will always be remembered as the selfless matriarch that put others before herself, and who sacrificed so much to give her family a better life in the United States. Resfa was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years Carlos Alvarez; sister Emilia Lopera; and parents Josefina Sierra and Justo Lopera. She is survived by her daughters, Gloria (Warren) Pederson, Patricia (Humberto) Sadder, Maria (Ted) Rajtar; grandchildren, Charles (Nicole) Sadder, David (Stephanie) Sadder, Anthony (Colleen) Sadder, Oscar (Isabella) Sadder, Juan (Jolee) Sadder, Jessica (Benjamin) Wagner, Justin (Jessica) Rajtar, Marissa and Andrew Pederson; great-grandchildren Anabelle and Camillia Sadder (Charles), Sophie Accuosti Sadder (David), Jude, Shea and Vince Sadder (Anthony), Joshua, Joseph and Jacob Sadder (Oscar), Mila and Luca Sadder (Juan), and Vivian and Nolan Rajtar (Justin); siblings Ramón (Maria) Lopera, Maga Lopera, León (Nora) Lopera, Jorge (Patricia) Lopera, Donald (Lynn) Loper, Justo Lopera, Margarita (Joel) Songstad, Norela Lopera, Jose Luis (Daisy) Lopera, Teresita Lopera; numerous nieces and nephews; and friends who became adopted family.Mass of Christian Burial scheduled for Saturday, March 12 at 11 a.m. (visitation begins at 10 a.m.) at St. Odilia Catholic Church, 3495 N. Victoria St., Shoreview, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that donations be made in Resfa's name to La Clínica and Cookie Cart.

Tributes

Resfa Lopera Alvarez

September 7, 1933 - February 21, 2022

Tributes

Resfa Lopera Alvarez

September 7, 1933 - February 21, 2022

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