Elisa Laguna

Elisa was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico to Vincente Marquez from Ponce, PR and Ines Maria Quinones from Carolina, PR. She was the 4th oldest of 12 siblings. For the most part she lived with her grandparents until she moved to NYC as a teenager with her mother Ines.

“A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others”

This perfectly describes my mother, Elisa. She always gave to others. Mom was a retired bilingual teacher in NYC, earning her master's degree while raising 6 children in Spanish Harlem. She loved reading books and teaching children.The school moved children with disciplinary problems to mom’s classroom. Her understanding and compassion for children allowed her to work well with children from all sorts of backgrounds. Elisa loved teaching so much she instructed children well into her 70s.

Mom loved to dance and sing. Every weekend there was a party at our house. My mom would sing while everyone else would dance and play instruments.She had a special closet near the living room with maracas, un guiro, a cowbell (cencerro) and congas among other things. Our home was always filled with love, food, sunshine and music. Yes, sunshine. Mom loved to pull away the curtains and open all the windows. We had a wonderfully sunny home.

Mom’s personality was very direct but caring. She loved her church, Fuente Divina. Mom glorified the Lord, Jesus Christ and prayed without ceasing for her family. She also would do anything for her children and her family. You could not mess with mom’s children. She made sure her children celebrated every birthday and every holiday. We longed for nothing.

We often wondered how mom acquired such great taste in clothes and furniture. Mom was born in a very poor neighborhood, yet she dressed like royalty. Her home was always beautifully decorated with lavish furniture.

Elisa Laguna is predeceased by her husband, Ruben Laguna and her ex-husband, Julio A Encarnacion, her daughter Maria de Los Angeles Encarnacion (Chispy), her son Julio C Encarnacion (Pito), her mom and dad and 6 siblings.

She is survived by her children; First born -Julio L Encarnacion (wife Jeannette), Daughter - Jasmine Encarnacion Eaddy (husband James), Daughter - Jarida Encarnacion (husband Orlando), Son- Ruben “Chino” Laguna, grandson/son Michael Encarnacion, 19 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren and lastly 5 siblings.

Services have been entrusted to Grissom Funeral Home in Kissimmee, Florida. A visitation will occur Sunday, October 27, 2024 from 9:30 am to 10:00 am with a funeral service to follow/

Elisa will be laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery, Kissimmee, Florida at 11:30 am on October 27, 2024.