Mr. Jose M. Alvarez, 76, entered the heavenly kingdom of the Lord on Friday, February 14, 2025.

We respectfully request that no one arrive at the funeral home prior to the posted visitation times, so as not to intrude on the family’s private time. 

Family and friends are invited to the visitation in the Kowalski Funeral Home, 515 Roselle Street, Linden on Monday, February 17th from 5:00-7:00PM.  There will be a prayer service held in the funeral home during the visitation hours.  The cremation in Rosehill Crematory in Linden will be private. 

Jose, the son of the late Rosa & Juan Alvarez, was born in Cadiz, Spain.  As a young man in Spain, Jose served in the Legion Española branch of the military. He came to the United States in 1972 and resided in Monroe Township, New Jersey for many years prior to settling in Rahway, New Jersey two years ago.

Jose had a long and storied career for over twenty-five years as a high school vice principal in the public school system, employed by the Board of Education in Newark until his retirement in 2003.

Throughout Jose’s life, the water has always been a source of peace, solitude and enjoyment, as he spent countless hours fishing, whether it be out on the open water in a boat, off a jetty or simply dropping a line off the dock.  He supplemented this activity with his love of stamps and coin collecting, as well as his affinity for understanding and working with computers.  Jose certainly was a man of many facets who had a jest for life and living.

Jose is survived by his three children, Jose F. Alvarez, Lydia Rosa Alvarez, Cary Fields and her husband, Michael; his two grandchildren, Alexander Alvarez and Mychaela Fields; his former spouse, Caridad Pascual; his three brothers, Andres Alvarez, Valentin Alvarez and Raymundo Alvarez and Jose’s countless neighbors and friends. 

A man for all seasons, Jose will be missed by those he held close to his heart.  His laughter, his love of life and his gift for sharing knowledge with so many around him, will be sorely missed.  May he be blessed with eternal rest until we all meet again one day.