Luz Elenia Cruz Quiles was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico on January 21, 1951, to Amelia Cruz and Faustino Quiles. The family moved to Brooklyn, New York when she was less than a year old. They later moved to New Jersey where she lived for most of her life, with her final resting place in Newtown, Connecticut. Mom was a loving Mother, Sister, Grandmother, Aunt and Friend. She was "Mami" to John, Ismael, Alicia, Angelo and Phillip. "Mima" to Roger, Joshua, Angelina, Ethan and Lucy. She was Mima, Titi or Tia to her beloved nieces and nephews. She was "Cookie" to her beloved family and friends.

Mami was the life of the party. She hosted more gatherings than anyone we know, and although we did not have much growing up, she surrounded us with family and friends, she provided plenty of love, support, fun, and as everyone knows - "food". Her passions were her grandchildren, gardening and cooking, and she was amazing with all three. Even at her lowest points, she insisted on caring for everyone especially her grandchildren. Mami loved doing things to make them happy, she enjoyed taking care of her garden and the landscaping, cooking great dinners and making beautiful and delicious cakes for what turnd out to be our final celebrations together. While Mami did everything with breaks in between, she always did it with a smile and she always put the needs of others ahead of her own. It was incredible how Mami was truly talented and she always made everthing seem so easy. She was beautiful inside and out, strong, wonderful, talented, a great mom, grandmother, incredibly brilliant, loving, nurturing, a gardener, an excellent cook, we could go on and on…

We all loved her so much, and we are honored to have shared her love and laughter with everyone. She made everyone feel special and we have no doubt that we speak for all, when we say - Mami, you were "Our Life".

She will NEVER be forgotten and she lives on in all of us.

Mami, we all Love and Miss you.

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