Maria (Mame) Cruz-Mendez, 78, Passed away on Sunday, November 23, 2025 in West Orange, NJ.

Maria was born on August 19, 1947, in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, To Benjamina Mendez and Juan Cruz. She was the oldest of six siblings.  Maria was a long time resident of New Jersey.  Where she was a homemaker and continued to raise her children.  Maria is survived by her loving children, Sonia Rosado, William Calderon, Madeline Hernandez-Gonzalez, Diana Hernandez-Daiuto, and Xiomara Santiago.  

Maria is also the grandmother to fourteen(14) grandchildren, a great grandmother to twenty-two(22) and a great-great grandmother to one(1).  

She was preceded in death by her daughter Maria Margarita Rosado and her son Luis Raul Santiago.  

Maria will be especially remembered for her love of cooking Puerto Rican(Native) dishes and for her dance moves.