When John Alves died Feb. 13, he left behind a wife and two young sons and now they are struggling to get by.
Alves lived and worked in Douglas County for seven years with his wife Barbara and sons Milo and Theo, both Gardnerville Elementary School students.
"He was older and had a weird form of cancer," Barbara said. "It had been responding but he had an ulcer which developed an infection."
Alves, 75, had disability because of his ulcers, but the doctors thought he had three more years to live at least, she said. The couple would have celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary on April 2. He died of heart failure due to a bleeding ulcer.
"It was quite a surprise," she said about his death. He was very young and in great shape for 75. He was a fighter and he'd gotten rid of all of his cancer."
John's death left Alves, a stay-at-home mom who worked part-time at Sunshine and Rainbows, and her 7 and 9-year-old boys without an income or insurance.
"We never really had any savings," she said. "I had a small job at Sunshine and Rainbows, but after he passed, it wasn't worth the gas to get there and back."
Alves, who has a bachelor's degree from Antioch University, said she has done paperwork for retraining and applied for help with the state, but hasn't had any luck.
Her request for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families was denied by the state.
"They denied my TANF because I get too much from Social Security," she said.
The state has also decreased the amount she receives in food stamps.
Meanwhile, Alves' rent is $1,050 and only $30 less than what she receives from her husband's Social Security.
Neighbors and teachers have done a great deal to support the Alves family, including raising money to pay their last gas bill.
"They've really helped out," she said. "It's been wonderful."
However, the state social services system has been another matter.
"It's been a slap in the face," she said. "We've always paid into the system and now we have a real strong need and they're not there for me. I'm frightened about what the future holds. I want to try to get my degree or go into nursing."
She said she was uncomfortable talking about her situation.
"I don't like doing this sort of thing," she said. "I don't want to be begging, I don't want to be in this situation at all."
Alves' sister, Susan Bullard has been helping out with paperwork.
She also set up a bank account for her sister, for anyone who wants to help.
The account is set up at Bank of America in the name of the John Alves Benefit Account. The account number is No. 501001214792.
