Helen Lorraine (Hess) Alves

Helen Hess-Alves, 72, a resident of Rio Rancho, NM passed on to be with her Holy Father on Sunday, February 10, 2019. Helen was born on Friday, September 20, 1946, the daughter of Mary F. Hess and James G. Hess in Oakland, CA. She is survived by her sister, Dorothy Hess-Sanchez and her husband, John of Byron, CA; two daughters, Leslie McGuire and her husband, Tom of Redwood City, CA and Melissa Brevig of Visalia, CA; one son, James Brevig Jr. and his wife, Nichol of Rio Rancho, NM; six grandchildren, Ryan McGuire, Kyle McGuire, Tyler McGuire, James Brevig III, Jacob Brevig, and Joshua Brevig; nieces, Tammy Castro, and Bonnie Castro; nephew, John Castro III; and the father of her children, James Brevig Sr.

Helen attended school at St. Leo’s Catholic School in Oakland, CA and was an active member of the church. She went on to graduate from Oakland Technical High School and majored in English. Helen belonged to the Almarausch German dance group out of Alameda, CA, and performed at many places including Disneyland and the San Francisco 49’ers game. She started the American Legion Post Ladies of the Auxiliary in Piedmont, CA, Post 514. She was the auxiliary commander of District 10 for Alameda, CA.

She taught CCD at many Catholic Churches throughout her life including San Ysidro Catholic Church in Corrales, NM and Church of the Incarnation in Rio Rancho, NM. Helen was passionate about sewing, knitting, crocheting, and crafting. She attended many craft fairs in the recent years to sell her American Girl doll clothes and other crafts. She loved her God and enjoyed attending weekly Mass with family. Helen loved to travel and visited many places around the world. She most recently went on a cruise to Alaska with her sister, Dorothy, and with her family to watch her sons and grandsons coach and play baseball in Cooperstown, NY. Helen had her own travel agency, High Desert Travel and enjoyed booking vacations for her family and friends.

Viewing will be held on Friday, February 22, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Greer Family Mortuary, 2694 Blanding Avenue Alameda, CA 94501.

Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 11:00 a.m., Saint Leo the Great Catholic Church, 4238 Howe Street Oakland, CA 94611. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.