BEARING WITNESS: A family gatherer, Alicia Ortiz’s death leaves family with void

BY FRANCISCO GUAJARDO

The day Alicia Ortiz died on July 16, 2020, all of a sudden the Dallas Cowboys didn’t seem to matter quite so much. That’s the assessment of Art Ortiz, Alicia’s brother and someone who bore close witness to his big sister’s life.

“Alicia used to rally us together. She’d get us to go to my parents’ house on Sundays to watch the Cowboys,” Art said. “She loved the Cowboys and found them as a good way to bring all of us together.”

“This past football season was different. I went for maybe one game. It just wasn’t the same without Alicia. Nobody rallied us to get there, it just wasn’t the same,” Art said.

Alicia’s leadership with the rank-and-file of the six Ortiz children was clear. Her brothers loved her, and they followed her: to watch the Cowboys, to come for Thanksgiving, to celebrate Christmas. Alicia led, and the family followed.

“To watch the Cowboys, she would tell me to bring drinks and chips,” Art said. “For Thanksgiving, she gave other assignments, like to bring pie. She was the leader.”

“This past Thanksgiving, we got together, and tried to keep the spirit, and we kind of did. But Christmas was different, a little less full, because Alicia wasn’t there,” Art said. “She was the glue—selfless, generous, and the personality that brought us together.”

“She was born through a midwife in Mercedes, Texas, on March 6, 1963,” Art said.

She was 57 years old when COVID-19 took her. It’s been a hard time for the family.

Alicia Ortiz, left, pictured here with her mother, died due to COVID-19 at the age of 57 in 2020. (Courtesy photo)

“So much loss,” Art said. “We lost Alicia, but we also lost my uncle to COVID, and we also lost his son.”

The losses have multiplied in the most unforgiving way. In Alicia’s case, the virus took a woman unequivocally committed to family.

“When my mom was diagnosed with lupus, Alicia looked after her every single day. Years later Alicia took Mom to dialysis for about two or three years, the last years of my mom’s life,” Art said.

“Alicia was always there,” he said. “She was there for us too, for me and for the younger kids. She helped my parents raise the younger kids.”

“Maybe the biggest loss is that she was always there to listen,” Art said. “If you needed someone to talk to, you could always count on Alicia to listen.”

Alicia leaves two daughters and four grandchildren, but she also left a generous spirit that was clearly impactful.

“My sister was the most giving person. She sacrificed for others, that’s the memory and impact she leaves behind,” Art said.

The perpetual giver, Alicia’s last employment was as a home health care provider.

“She took care of my uncle,” said Art, mournfully reflecting on the consistency of Alicia’s selflessness.

There is no consolation here, because Art describes a palpable void.

“It’s emotional. It’s been more than half a year, but we’re still dealing with her loss. We’re not over it,” Art said.

Que en paz descanse Alicia Ortiz. Rest in peace.


Francisco Guajardo, chief executive officer for the Museum of South Texas History at 200 N. Closner Blvd. in Edinburg, authored this story as part of an ongoing series entitled Bearing Witness. The museum’s effort aims to document some of the Rio Grande Valley lives lost to COVID-19. For more information about the museum, visit MOSTHistory.org.