Loreta Alacre, 49: Filipina caregiver who supported her family back home

Loreta Alacre, 49, a Filipino caregiver living in Israel, was murdered by Hamas terrorists near Gaza on October 7.

Alacre’s remains finally arrived home in Cadiz City on October 22, more than two weeks after she was killed. She was laid to rest in a ceremony there on November 5.

The state-run Philippine News Agency said that Alacre had been working as a caregiver in Israel for about 15 years, and was slated to visit home this December to celebrate her 50th birthday. PNA said that Alacre had been attending the Supernova music festival when she was murdered, although a family member later disputed this report.

“We love Loreta very much, she was very kind to all of us,” her sister, Anabella, was quoted as saying by a local news site at the airport the day of her body’s arrival. “I am very angry at the people who did this to her, she would still be with us today if they had spared her.”

Anabella earlier said that Alacre was generous to her extended family: “She was sending her nephews and nieces to school and was helping all of her siblings with various needs,” she said. “Loreta also paid for hospital bills, birthdays, weddings, baptisms and funerals of family members.”

Noam Solomon wrote on Facebook that Alacre had been “my devoted caregiver of the last 6 years,” describing her as “my beloved and dear Lorie… an inseparable part of my family.”

At her funeral, the mayor of Cadiz City, Salvador Escalante Jr., memorialized her as “an icon of perseverance, persistency, hope and selflessness. She had always thought of her family’s welfare.”

“She may be out of sight, but her memories highlighted by her unique heroism will linger in us Cadiznons,” Escalante added.

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