Servant of God Dora del Hoyo

Dora del Hoyo Alonso, (11 January 1914 – 10 January 2004; born Salvadora Honorata del Hoyo Alonso in Leon, Spain) was a Spanish Catholic laywoman who was one of the first female members of Opus Dei.: 9–11  A domestic worker by profession, del Hoyo was the first to join the Prelature of Opus Dei as an assistant numerary meaning that she dedicated herself professionally to caring for people and looking after the material needs of Opus Dei centers. From 1946 until her death, she lived in Rome, Italy where she collaborated first with Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, Opus Dei's founder, and later on with his successors Álvaro del Portillo and Bishop Javier Echevarría, in the domestic management of the first Opus Dei center there, later the movement's headquarters. Dora del Hoyo was born on January 11, 1914, in the village of Boca de Huérgano in Leon, Spain, the fifth of six children. Her father, Demetrio del Hoyo, was a farm-laborer and her mother, Carmen Alonso, a home-maker.: 13–15  To support her family, at an early age del Hoyo began working as a housekeeper for the village doctor. In 1935, del Hoyo decided to look for better housework opportunities in Astorga, León, but the onset of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) caused her to have to return to her hometown.: 16  In 1940, del Hoyo moved to Madrid, once again in search of better opportunities. Through the help of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate for Domestic Service (a religious congregation founded by Vincentia Maria López y Vicuña and dedicated to helping young girls find employment in household work), del Hoyo got hired as a housemaid for the Marquess of Almunia, and later on for the Dukes of Nájera.: 269  In 1944, del Hoyo was still working for the Duke when she came in contact with Opus Dei.