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June 9, 2017
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, June 11, 2017 from 2-6 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A Funeral Mass will be offered on Monday, June 12, 2017, beginning 1:30 PM at Annunciation RC Church, 45 Urban Club Road. Meet directly at the church.
Luisa Pilar Fontanez, age 97, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 9, 2017.
Born in Coamo, Puerto Rico in 1919, Luisa was the daughter of Meliton and Mercedes Leon. The town of Coamo was very small and opportunities were even smaller for families to have chances to get ahead in life. In fact, Luisa herself quit school when she was just ten years old sewing full time to help her family.
She married Florencio Fontanez in 1934 at the age of 15 to have her own home. Over the years the couple worked hard selling baked goods (Florencio), Pasteles and garments (Luisa). Eventually, they made enough $ to bring the Family to New York.
Strong in her faith, all of her 6 children attended Catholic school at Holy Cross in Hell's kitchen. She was strong and stern, but always defended and took care of her family.
When the kids were almost grown, she took driving lessons, bought an Edsel and headed out to California. She got a job right away and stayed with friends until she could send for the family again. Once she was established in LA, she went back to school – first finishing grammar school, then getting her high school diploma. But Luisa didn’t stop there. Those steps were just a means to her ultimate goal – becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Once she was a nurse, Luisa started work in a local hospital as well as private care. When they were all out of the house, she finished school and studied to be an LPN.
She always visited her children and grandchildren throughout the years and even found time to craft dresses with lace and tulle that today would cost $200 each. She also travelled extensively visiting Ireland, Spain, Italy, France, Russia, Venezuela, Columbia, and much of the United States including Death Valley in California. Strangely enough it was Death Valley that was her favorite place to go because the warm dry air and lack of pollution made her allergies almost go away. One of the highlights of Luisa’s life was also seeing Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal.
When Florencio passed away, Luisa drove from Florida to New Jersey to come live with her youngest daughter Zoe and her husband Stephen in Vernon, NJ. In 2001, they moved to Wayne and Luisa has called Wayne her home for the last sixteen years. She helped with cooking and cleaning even though no one ever asked her to. She took care of everyone throughout her life. Some of her best dishes were: bacalaitos, alcapurrias, arroz con pollo, and of course, pasteles!
She worked hard all her life but also enjoyed, concerts like Julio Iglesias, Broadway plays, and dances.
Luisa will forever be admired for being a great example of making much of the little opportunities that she was given. She was a great inspiration to her family and despite much sacrifice that all experienced, Luisa was always generous and loving to her family, friends, and patients. Her family always knew she had their back and her presence in their lives and the lives of those she touched will be greatly missed.
Luisa was predeceased by her beloved husband Florencio. She is survived by her dear son and four dear daughters: Julia Montanez of Deltona, FL, Maria Jewell of Deltona, FL, Louie and wife Rosalba Fontanez of Burbank, CA, Martha Schonfeld of Ann Arbor, MI, and Zoe M. and husband Stephen Seda of Wayne; twenty adored grandchildren, and twelve cherished great-grandchildren. She was also predeceased by her son Antonio in 2015.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Luisa’s name are asked to consider Annunciation RC Church or Heifer International, 1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72207 (www.heifer.org).
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, June 11, 2017 from 2-6 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A Funeral Mass will be offered on Monday, June 12, 2017, beginning 1:30 PM at Annunciation RC Church, 45 Urban Club Road. Meet directly at the church.
June 9, 2017
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, June 11, 2017 from 2-6 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A Funeral Mass will be offered on Monday, June 12, 2017, beginning 1:30 PM at Annunciation RC Church, 45 Urban Club Road. Meet directly at the church.
Luisa Pilar Fontanez, age 97, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 9, 2017.
Born in Coamo, Puerto Rico in 1919, Luisa was the daughter of Meliton and Mercedes Leon. The town of Coamo was very small and opportunities were even smaller for families to have chances to get ahead in life. In fact, Luisa herself quit school when she was just ten years old sewing full time to help her family.
She married Florencio Fontanez in 1934 at the age of 15 to have her own home. Over the years the couple worked hard selling baked goods (Florencio), Pasteles and garments (Luisa). Eventually, they made enough $ to bring the Family to New York.
Strong in her faith, all of her 6 children attended Catholic school at Holy Cross in Hell's kitchen. She was strong and stern, but always defended and took care of her family.
When the kids were almost grown, she took driving lessons, bought an Edsel and headed out to California. She got a job right away and stayed with friends until she could send for the family again. Once she was established in LA, she went back to school – first finishing grammar school, then getting her high school diploma. But Luisa didn’t stop there. Those steps were just a means to her ultimate goal – becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Once she was a nurse, Luisa started work in a local hospital as well as private care. When they were all out of the house, she finished school and studied to be an LPN.
She always visited her children and grandchildren throughout the years and even found time to craft dresses with lace and tulle that today would cost $200 each. She also travelled extensively visiting Ireland, Spain, Italy, France, Russia, Venezuela, Columbia, and much of the United States including Death Valley in California. Strangely enough it was Death Valley that was her favorite place to go because the warm dry air and lack of pollution made her allergies almost go away. One of the highlights of Luisa’s life was also seeing Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal.
When Florencio passed away, Luisa drove from Florida to New Jersey to come live with her youngest daughter Zoe and her husband Stephen in Vernon, NJ. In 2001, they moved to Wayne and Luisa has called Wayne her home for the last sixteen years. She helped with cooking and cleaning even though no one ever asked her to. She took care of everyone throughout her life. Some of her best dishes were: bacalaitos, alcapurrias, arroz con pollo, and of course, pasteles!
She worked hard all her life but also enjoyed, concerts like Julio Iglesias, Broadway plays, and dances.
Luisa will forever be admired for being a great example of making much of the little opportunities that she was given. She was a great inspiration to her family and despite much sacrifice that all experienced, Luisa was always generous and loving to her family, friends, and patients. Her family always knew she had their back and her presence in their lives and the lives of those she touched will be greatly missed.
Luisa was predeceased by her beloved husband Florencio. She is survived by her dear son and four dear daughters: Julia Montanez of Deltona, FL, Maria Jewell of Deltona, FL, Louie and wife Rosalba Fontanez of Burbank, CA, Martha Schonfeld of Ann Arbor, MI, and Zoe M. and husband Stephen Seda of Wayne; twenty adored grandchildren, and twelve cherished great-grandchildren. She was also predeceased by her son Antonio in 2015.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Luisa’s name are asked to consider Annunciation RC Church or Heifer International, 1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72207 (www.heifer.org).
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