Marina Nino de Alvarez

AIKEN, SC - Marina Nino de Alvarez, 95, born in Bogota, Colombia, resident of Aiken since 1999 and a US Citizen since 2006, entered into rest on January 17, 2026 at her home surrounded by her family.

A native of Bogota, Colombia, was the daughter of the late Luis Alejandro Nino and Irene Avila. Mrs. Alvarez spent her life as an executive secretary before retiring and coming to live in the United States with her husband to be closer to her children. She lived her life for her family as a dedicated daughter, loving wife, extraordinary mother and caring grandmother.

She is survived by her children, Oscar A. Parra (Amparo Lopez), Conie P. Austin (James A. Austin), Adriana Smith (Russell Smith) and Olga Lucia Alvarez.

She had seven grandchildren, the late Oscar Enrique Parra, Pilar Dunn (William Dunn), Delia Angelica Parra (Jorge Llinas), Christopher A. Austin (Hannah M. Austin), Nicholas A. Smith, Daniella S. Annelli (Edward J. Annelli) and Jonathan Smith, and five great grand-children, Oscar Ernesto Parra, Thomas Quintero (Ella N. Quintero), Marianne Dunn, Matthew Dunn, Jameson Austin and one great-great grandson, Noah T. Quintero.

She is also survived by her sisters Syra Heffler (Gerald Heffler) and Esperanza Jackson (Gary Jackson) and preceded in death by her brother, Luis Alejandro Nino.

A private ceremony for the family will be held on Tuesday afternoon, January 20, 2026 at 3:00 pm at Shellhouse Rivers Funeral Home in Aiken, South Carolina. (715 East Pine Log Road, Aiken SC 29803).

Friends are invited to a Requiem Mass, which will take place on Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 10:00 am at St. Mary’s Help of Christians Church in Aiken, South Carolina. (138 Fairfield Street, SE, Aiken, SC 29801). The committal of the ashes will take place in the church columbarium following the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. St Jude website/Memorial donations and gifts/Search for a Fund/Honoree: Marina De Alvarez, or call 1-800-805-5856.

SHELLHOUSE-RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, INC., 715 E. PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC 29803