Mary Figueroa

My mother Mary(commonly known as Chickie) was the oldest of five children born to Carlos Cruz and Eloina Velez. She was born Oct 20, 1930 and got a kick out of saying she was born 10-20-30. She was a child of the depression that grew up being very frugal due to the hardships of those times. What wasn’t lacking in their family was the love they shared for one another. The siblings were known to buck heads as they were all strong natured but loyal to each other no matter what! Any outsider who

dared to say anything against their family would be met with that “Cruz” look and a stern backlash. That is who my mother was-loved with all her heart and felt those tight bonds in her heart. I was her only surviving child as she lost a son earlier to a problem with RH negative. Needless to say she was a mother bear who spoiled me rotten! Later on in life we both ended up working at North Shore Hospital. She started in the ER and retired from the mailroom. She very much enjoyed being part of the North Shore “family” as we were called then. Once retired she found joy in spending time with friends, family and art classes my aunt Alice introduced her to. Since I did not have children my husband Eddie and I continued to be her “kids”. Sadly as time went on she developed dementia which slowly robbed her of herself. My husband passed away 5 years ago and though she didn’t know it she became my refuge from that pain. So now that she has parted this earth I am dealing with them both being gone and no refuge this time. I pray she was immediately reunited with all our dearly departed and her little baby boy she lost all those years ago. God bless you Ma-I’ll miss you forever!

A visitation for Mary will be held Monday, April 7, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Frederick Funeral Home, 192-15 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11358. A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 215-35 38th Ave, Bayside, NY 11361.Interment will follow on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Mount St. Mary Cemetery, 172-00 Booth Memorial Ave, Flushing, NY 11365.