Luz E. “Lucy” Mendez, age 63 years, of Readington Township,  NJ, died peacefully on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at the home, surrounded by her cherished family, and under the caring watch of Hunterdon Hospice.

Born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico, October 26, 1956, daughter of the late Casimiro and Agueda Rolon Maldonado, Lucy was raised in Cayey, Puerto Rico, and had lived in Jersey City, NJ, Palm Coast, FL, and the Poconos in PA prior to moving to Readington Township in 2019.

For many years Lucy was a bilingual clerk with the Hudson County Department of Social Services, where her smile and kind words made many peoples days just a bit brighter.

When reflecting on Lucy’s life, two main themes come to mind: family and faith. Born the seventh of nine siblings, Lucy’s father was a Pentecostal minister who taught his children the value of hard work and faith. He built the families home from the ground up, and ensured that all his children knew the importance of working together, being there for one another, and loving Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Lucy heeded those early life lessons and incorporated them into teaching her own three daughters about life. She was devoted to her girls and their spouses, and that devotion was only magnified when she received the title of ‘Nana’ to her six cherished grandchildren. She was there for them in every way, from being their own personal chefs (making sure they knew what real Puerto Rican cooking was), to ensuring that her shopping trips resulted in many bags of presents for them. It wasn’t the gifts though, it was the love and caring that came with them that her grandchildren loved.

Eighteen years ago, while at work, Lucy met a police officer named Michael Centonze. The two became quick friends with Mike admiring Lucy’s sense of family and style. Their friendship blossomed and turned into a long and lasting love.

Loving to dress her best under any circumstance, Lucy was also known for her decorating style and interior design. Her cooking was enjoyed not only by her grandchildren, but by her entire family and she will be especially remembered for her carrot cake, pasteles, flan, rice, and any dish one could think of as ‘authentically Puerto Rican’. Her hard work, selflessness, and devotion to family are but several of the pieces of the amazing and rich legacy she leaves for her children and grandchildren to carry forward.

Though the last several months were difficult for Lucy as her health declined, she taught one final lesson to her family before she took her place in heaven: that together, family, with genuine love and faith, can accomplish anything. When she closed her eyes on Earth for the final time, she surely heard these words from 2 Timothy 4: 7-8: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. Lucy, rest in the sweetest peace. You made this world better through your actions and you shone a light on the path of goodness for many to follow. 

Surviving are her husband, Michael Centonze; her daughters and sons-in-law, Ivette and Brian Shoemaker, Melynda Mendez and Sergio Gonzalez, and Brenda and Jorge Rojas; her grandchildren, Ashley, Lucas, Matthew, Isabella, Elijah, and Emily; her siblings, Elizabeth (Ely), Norma, Elias, Benjamin, Hiram, Ruben, Lydia (Lucy’s twin sister), and Miriam; her sister-in-law, Camille Zevoteck; her rescue dogs from Puerto Rico, Molly and Max; many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family; and many dear friends.

Visitation will take place on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ 08822. This will be followed by a life celebration service officiated by Rev. Donovan Shoemaker, and beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Please note: masks are required to be worn at all times on the funeral home premises and all person must maintain social distancing requirements. Please follow the instructions of the Wright & Ford Care Team Ambassadors upon arrival. Your respect and understanding is greatly appreciated by the family. ***For those unable to attend the service, please see the zoom meeting link below. Kindly ensure that you keep your sound on mute and that you find yourself in a setting where you can truly focus during the service.***

Burial will follow at Prospect Hill Cemetery, 69 Capner Street, Flemington, NJ.

Please visit Luz’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a memorial candle, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her honor may be made to the Hunterdon Medical Center Foundation for the benefit of the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center via mail to: 9100 Wescott Drive, Suite 202, Flemington, NJ 08822, or online by clicking HERE.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

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Topic: Lucy Mendez Life Celebration
Time: Jul 7, 2020 12:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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