Obituary
July 28, 1958 – November 15, 2022
Edwin O. Cruz of Valrico, Florida departed this life on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, peacefully at home after a
long illness. He was preceded in his death by his parents, Santiago Cruz Rivera and Virgen Maria Roque Ortiz,
as well as his sister Ruth “Miriam” Cruz Roque.
Edwin moved to Syracuse, NY from Puerto Rico as a young man and worked at Nestles Chocolate Factory in
Fulton, NY until he retired to Florida in 2000. His favorite pastime was fishing and going to the beach, he
loved old cars and spending time with his family.
He leaves to mourn his wife of 49 years Virgen “Millie” Cruz, and his children Edwin O. Cruz Jr. (Kesha), IdaLiz
Richardson (Tommy “Toma”), Xiomara Cruz Ramos (Richard), Jennifer “Ňeca” Allen (Craig “Creque”),
Dwight “Kiki” LaFlair (Jenny) all of Valrico, FL, his grandchildren William “Guiermo” Figueroa, Abimael “Abi”
Rodriguez (Syracuse, NY), Alexis Herrera Cruz(Syracuse, NY), Yasmeen “Fuchi” Allen, Maritza “Mari” Cruz,
Jhensey Ramos, Tommeke “Toňo” Richardson, Edwin “Mikey” Cruz III, and Giselle “Yiyo” Allen, three great
grandchildren Nanielis “Nani” Herrera Cruz (Syracuse, NY), Zoey Massiel LaFlair, and Amelia Sophia Ramos
both of Valrico, FL. Two Brothers, Rafael “Josian” Cruz of Puerto Rico, and Hector Cruz (Eloina) of Lakeland, FL, 5
sisters Luz Nereida Cruz (Hector), Gloria Cruz (Estanislao), Maria “Cuca” Cruz, Ada Nelly Cruz (Luis) all of
Puerto Rico, Rosa Enid Velasquez (Alexis) of Alabama, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and
cousins.
The Memorial Service will be on Saturday, December 3, 2022, from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm at Serenity Meadows Memorial
Park and Funeral Home, 6919 Providence Rd, Riverview, FL 33578.
For those who are not able to attend, services will be live-streamed via Facebook.
It is up to those who bear his memory to keep his goodness alive. We do this by remembering him, we do this by speaking his name, and we do this by carrying on his legacy!
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