Eugenia (Peña) Cruz, 90, of Chelmsford, known to her family as Gladys and to her many friends as Genie, died peacefully on Monday, August 24, 2026, at Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burlington, following a chronic illness, surrounded by those who loved her. She was the beloved wife of Hector L. Cruz Sr., to whom she had been married for more than 70 years.
Born in Humacao, Puerto Rico, on November 15, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Gabriel Peña and the late Casimira (Colon) Peña. Gladys was raised in Puerto Rico, before relocating to New York City where she graduated from high school. It was in the Bronx that she met Hector, and the two married a few years later, beginning a partnership that would span more than seven decades.
She made her home in New York City for most of her adult life, where she worked for CitiCorp for over 20 years as an accounting analyst. Following her retirement, she and Hector settled in Spring Hill, Florida, where they enjoyed more than 20 happy years. Three years ago, she relocated to Massachusetts to be closer to her family.
Gladys was, by every measure, a social butterfly. She loved nothing more than a house full of people, and she was happiest when she was feeding them. Cooking was her great joy, and so was eating; she delighted in trying new foods and new restaurants and was always ready for a good meal in good company. She had a lifelong love of games, and no gathering was complete without a deck of cards or a board game, Parcheesi above all. Beyond her warmth and her hospitality, she was known for her generosity of spirit. She was always helping others, and no one who needed her ever had to ask twice.
In addition to her husband, Hector, Gladys is survived by her two children, Myrna Cruz of Bothell, WA, and Hector Cruz and his wife, Florence, of Westford, MA; her three grandchildren, Joshua Cruz and his wife, Francesca, of Superior, CO, Jonathan Cruz and his wife, Jennifer, of Gorham, ME, and Jacob Cruz and his wife, Elizabeth, of Acton, MA; and her five great-grandchildren, Simone, Jaxson, Luca, Maya, and Carter. She is also survived by her siblings, Irma Ocasio and her husband, David, of Luquillo, PR, Eneida Cardenas of Queens, NY, Gloria Peña of Humacao, PR, Migdalia Peña of Humacao, Puerto Rico, and Angel Gabriel Peña of Naguabo, PR, as well as many loved nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings, Carmen Diaz, Victor Peña, Adalberto Peña, Zoraida Vera, and Gabriel Peña.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the McDonough Funeral Home, 14 Highland Street, Lowell, MA 01852.
Her funeral service will take place on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Winchendon.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Eugenia Cruz may be made to the National Kidney Foundation at https://www.kidney.org/?campaign=497078, the American Heart Association at https://www.heart.org/ or the American Diabetes Association at https://diabetes.org/