Esperanza Vertucci Alfonso

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Maria Esperanza Vertucci Alfonso (62) on April 9, 2025, after a breathtaking, full, and beautiful life that was cut far too short following her courageous battle with cancer. Esperanza was born on April 20, 1962, in Bogotá, Colombia. Driven by her passion for touching lives and her ability to fill others with her confidence and determined spirit, she chose to study psychology at Konrad Lorenz University in Bogotá. She moved to Florida to finish her degree and settled in Palm Beach Gardens, leaving behind everything familiar to carve her own path and build a life grounded in love, resilience, and joy. Esperanza was a devoted mother, daughter, sister, and aunt, a loyal and exceptionally thoughtful friend, and a source of great inspiration to those who were blessed to know her. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 and fought bravely against the disease for seven years — never once allowing the burden of her illness to dim her light, laughter, or love of life. Her radiant spirit only shone brighter. Esperanza’s love of life was infectious. She turned ordinary occasions into celebrations full of music, laughter, and love. Cancer never defined Esperanza; she lived her life to the absolute fullest and created precious memories alongside family and friends, exploring new corners of the world, and spending time in her homeland Colombia. Esperanza’s greatest joy in life was being a mother: raising, nurturing, and cherishing time with her two beloved children, Christopher (29) and Jacqueline (27), both of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. In addition to her two children, Esperanza is also survived by her mother, Lilia Pedraza de Alfonso, of Bogotá, Colombia; sisters Alcira, Myriam, Janeth (Edgar), and Martha (Eduardo); brother Ignacio; nieces Grace, Kimberly, Diana, and Jessica; and nephews Miguel Angel, Daniel, and Camilo. She was preceded in death by her father, Ignacio Alfonso Rocha, of Bogotá, Colombia. Esperanza will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her, but family and friends know that she is still present in their lives. Her love, smile, and indomitable spirit will live on forever — in stories told, songs sung, and hearts forever changed by her grace. Esperanza’s family will receive friends from 4-6pm, with a vigil prayer service at 5:30pm, on Tuesday, April 15 at Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home in Jupiter. A funeral mass will be held at St. Paul of the Cross in North Palm Beach at 11am on Wednesday, April 16, directly followed by the burial at Riverside Memorial Park in Tequesta. The family requests, in the spirit of celebrating Esperanza’s life, that guests wear white at the vigil and spring colors to the funeral mass and burial. They kindly ask each guest to bring an orchid in her honor (either to the vigil or to the mass at St. Paul). These orchids – symbols of strength, love, and enduring beauty, and Esperanza’s favorite flower – will surround her with the same grace and color she brought to all of of our lives. Her family welcomes donations to the Susan G. Komen foundation in honor of Esperanza’s life and courageous battle.

Esperanza Vertucci Alfonso

April 20, 1962 - April 9, 2025