Obituary of Nancy O'Horo Alves

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on October 7th at San Agustin in Scotts Valley for Nancy Alves who passed away at her home with Jack, her beloved husband of 37 years at her side.  

Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania to Elizabeth Farrell of Scranton, Pennsylvania and Peter O’Horo, of Ballina County Mayo, Ireland, she was 89 years old.

Fiercely proud of her Irish Heritage and devoted to her Catholic Faith, Nancy graduated from Marywood College in Dunmore, Pennsylvania. Nancy started her career in Washington D.C. as a Content Specialist at National Geographic Magazine, then taught high school English and History in Indiana, and finished with 16 years as a Medical Administrator at Dr. Dorosin’s practice in Santa Cruz.

For more than 30 years, Nancy was a parishioner of Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz, and for the past 25 years, has been a member of San Agustin Catholic Community in Scotts Valley.  Nancy and her husband Jack made lifelong friends in Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley and felt truly blessed to have the love and support of their church family at San Agustin and Holy Cross.

Her hobbies included travel, reading, singing, movies, dark chocolate, and visiting grandchildren. She was an incurable optimist and never met a stranger.

Various highlights of her life included reconnecting with fourteen first cousins in Ireland, spending Summers at the "Family Camp" in the Sierras, seeing her children marry, and welcoming grandchildren to the family.

She is survived by her husband Jack Alves, her sons, Stephen R. Getty (Sue Taylor) and Matthew P. Getty  (Carrie Getty); her daughter, Sarah Mozelle (Ken Karakotsios).
Nancy is also survived by Jack’s children: Steve Alves and Lisa Longaker along with her beloved grandchildren Kevin, Drew, and Julia Getty; Ally and Luke Longaker; Joaquin Alves, Theo and Tessa Karakotsios and Annabelle and Savannah Getty. 
The mass will take place on Saturday October 7, 2023 at San Agustin Catholic Church (257 Glenwood Drive) in Scotts Valley beginning at 10 a.m. Family and friends are all invited to continue celebrating Nancy's life at the Spring Lakes clubhouse following the service. 

A kind act of charity can be made in her memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Siena House, or Doctors Without Borders.