Dorliza Francisca Gutierrez was born to Zoila Flores de Alvarez, a shop owner, and Santiago Alvarez, a farmer, in Otuzco Peru, a small city in the mountains outside Trujillo (which is the third largest city of Peru and is on the coast).  Dorliza was the youngest of her three sisters, Julia, Luz and Olinda, and was followed by a son, Santiago (who died as a toddler).  She lived in Otuzco very happily both in the small city center and spending time with her father on their farmland until the age of ten when she moved to and joined her sisters in Trujillo, so that she could attend middle school (since Otuzco did not have a middle school).  Dorliza completed her education in Trujillo, earning a Bachelor and Master of Science in Pharmacy at the Universidad Nacional de Trujillo and a full merit scholarship and graduating as valedictorian of her college class.  She embarked on her career as a hospital pharmacist at the Hospital de Belen in Trujillo, working there for several years until 1961 when she moved to the United States. 

Dorliza married Segundo Gutierrez, also from Otuzco, on September 11, 1961 in Trujillo.  Days later, they moved to New York City, intending a honeymoon and permanent relocation, which they accomplished, settling in Queens.  Upon arrival and for several months, Dorliza had a variety of jobs unrelated to her profession, then landed a Pharmacist Aide’s position at a Queens hospital, Mary Immaculate Hospital.  Meanwhile, she studied for the licensing exam, passed it, became a licensed pharmacist and worked for just shy of three decades at St. Vincent’s Hospital in the West Village of Manhattan.  Dorliza loved being a pharmacist, including contributing to patient care, reading pharmacy and science journals and taking graduate school courses (at St. John’s University).  Recently, during her medical care, she showed tremendous gratitude to those who cared for her and encouraged them to stay the road and continue their contributions. 

Dorliza (and Segundo) had two children, Roxanna and Ron, to whom she was devoted throughout their lives.  She ensured they attended the best schools, pursued hobbies and played sports.  Dorliza (and Segundo) instilled and nurtured in their children knowledge about and love for their family, all of whom remained in Peru for many years, teaching them Spanish, welcoming their family for vacation visits and traveling to Peru for family vacations every few years. 

After retiring from her career, Dorliza dedicated herself to her hobbies, drawing, visiting art museums (she was a decades long member of MoMA and the Whitney Museum of American Art) and reading.  She also took long walks daily, practiced yoga and played tennis with Segundo.  Upon the birth of her first granddaughter in NYC, Mylie, she (and Segundo) turned her attention to her, caring for her two days a week, then Mylie’s sister, Allie.  Dorliza (and Segundo) cared for their granddaughters two days a week for twenty years until the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Dorliza (and Segundo) also spent considerable time with her two grandchildren in San Francisco, Rosie and Ava, forming close bonds with them.  Throughout her life, she maintained her passion for traveling and prioritized it, exploring the United States and traveling internationally, and of course regularly returning to Peru to visit family and travel within Peru. 

Dorliza also has close-knit relationships with her nieces and nephews.  She (and Segundo) welcomed each to their home during their adolescent years, including vacation visits and while they studied in college or graduate school, then later as adults along with their families.  Dorliza (and Segundo) took them sightseeing and shared their hobbies and pastimes. 

Dorliza is survived by her beloved husband Segundo, her children, Roxanna Gutierrez and Ron Gutierrez, and their spouses, Randy Walker and Cherie Golant, her grandchildren, Mylie, Allie, Rosie and Ava, her nieces and nephews, Silvia, Alberto, Lucy, Jose Luis, Carlos and Frank, grandnieces and grandnephews, Erich, Laura, Stephan, Luis, Ben, Susana, Felipe, Maricarmen, Lucia, Santiago, Diego and Andrea.

To use a friend’s word choice, Dorliza had an indomitable spirit, remaining a stellar communicator despite her profound hearing loss.  She was an avid correspondent and a chronicler and photographer, and enjoyed sharing her chronicles, photos and artwork.  And Dorliza faced her illness with a cool head, smarts and practicality, saying she knew she would die of something.  Those of us who knew her will be accompanied forever by Dorliza’s love, energy and unflagging determination. 

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to make a donation in Dorliza’s memory, please consider making it to either of the below:

Hospice and Palliative Care at MJHS:  https://www.mjhsfoundation.org/donate/

Pancreatic Cancer and Research and Gift Fund at Columbia University Medical Center:  https://www.cancer.columbia.edu/about-us/giving

Funeral mass at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs can be watch at the following link:

https://ourladyqueenofmartyrs.org 

Scroll down on the main page to watch Mass online.