NEW BEDFORD — Cruz Collazo, of New Bedford, THE MATRIARCH OF THE COLLAZO FAMILY, died Monday, June 5, 2006, at the age of 88, after a 6 year battle with Alzheimer's. She lived at home where she was being cared for by her daughter. She was the widow of Julio Collazo whom she was married to for 59 years.
Mrs. Collazo was a stay at home mom who devoted her whole life to baby-sitting her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She saw five generations of her family, she enjoyed traveling, cooking, baby-sitting and going to church.
Born in Manati, Puerto Rico, the daughter of the late Maria Febles and Pablo Mendez. She lived in New Bedford for 37 years. She was a member of The Christian Revival Temple where she attended faithfully until her illness.
Survivors include two sons, Wilfredo Jesurun Mendez and his wife, Loida Jesurun Vasquez of Ponce, Puerto Rico and Julio Collazo and his wife, Dionicia Collazo of New Bedford; five daughters, Julia Calderon and her husband, Rafael Calderon, of Santiago, Dominican Republic, Blanca Iris Hernandez and her husband, Jose E. Hernandez, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Cruz Medeiros and her husband, Emilio Medeiros, Gladys Teixeira, Norma Collazo Porche and her husband, Arthur John Porche of New Bedford, Mass.; one Sister, Paula Mendez Davila of Santurce, Puerto Rico; 29 Grandchildren; 69 Great-Grandchildren; and 23 Great-Great Grandchildren.
She was the sister of the late Julia Rosado; Mother of the late Angel Luis Collazo; Grandmother of the late Jose E. Hernandez Jr., Carlos Rene Collazo and Ron E. Teixeira; Great Grandmother of the late Michael E. Acevedo and Elizabeth Lee Colon.
Funeral from the Wilson Chapel, 479 County St., NB on Thursday at 9 a.m. followed by burial in St. John's Cemetery. Visitation 5-8 P.M.