Gregoria Cruz

Gregoria Gloria Cruz Miranda June 1, 1928 - March 20, 2016 Cabo Rojo, P.R., Manhattan, Bronx, NY As a child, Gloria swam off the coast of Cabo Rojo at Joyuda Beach & the Playa de los Ratones. She walked a mile each way with her sister Chevo to gather wood for her family's stove and carry fresh water home. She climbed fruit trees to get produce for her father to sell. She moved to NYC in 1947, worked as a seamstress at the Mayaguez Clothing Company on the LES, and at a dress company on 3rd Ave. She and Pepe bought their dream house/finca on Intervale Ave. in the Bronx 1987, and she retired from St. Luke's Hospital after 25 years. Mother-Jacinta Miranda; Father-Timoteo Miranda Seven Sisters & one Brother-Maria Franqui Caoniba Patria Miranda Patito, Lydia Miranda, Eusebia Miranda Chevo, Enrique Miranda Quique, Julia Hebe, Grace, & Isolina Cambú Husbands-Israel Franqui 2.5 years; Pedro Norberto Cruz 50 years Daughters-Gloria Franqui, Jr. Goyita, Nancy Cruz Tati, Migdalia Cruz Michi, Virginia Cruz Baby Son-in-law-James Kent Jimmy; Granddaughter-Antonia Cruz-Kent Toita The last 7 years of her life she lived with Migdalia & James & Antonia in the "que boring" town of Irvington, NY. She missed the hustle and bustle of city life, until her new life became filled with many new pleasures shared with family and friends: Bingo at the Irvington Senior Center with her friends Susie Casinos with her niece Nereida, Javi & her dear sister, Chevo; matinees at the Greenburgh cinema with Michi where she always wanted to see the comedies & romances; shopping with Goyita to buy her beloved striped turtlenecks; driving to City Island with Virginia for clam chowder and maybe a piece of cheesecake; going for walks with Jimmy, Michi & Antonia at Rockefeller State Park where she would sit more than walk by the lake and watch the birds while doing her ubiquitous Circle-a-Word puzzle books; and taking vigilant care of Tati at Cabrini Nursing Home-a job she and Pepe dedicated themselves to for 55 years-when Tati became ill from lead-poisoning in 1959/60. Gregoria lived a full life with laughter and tears, sorrow and joy. And in the end, when she could no longer catch her breath-she waved good-bye with both hands, curling her fingers over her palms and saying, "I love you … Thank You." A good life well lived.