Zoraida Mercado, age 81 of Lajas, Puerto Rico, passed away on Thursday, April 16, 2020 at the Osceola Regional Medical Center, Kissimmee, FL. She was born to the late Zacarias Mercado and Efigenia Velez on February 20, 1939. Raising her four children (and many of her grandchildren), family, friends, and Church were Zoraida’s passion and delight. She enjoyed dancing and going to the hair salon before she married the love of her life, Ferdinand Rodriguez, in 1956 in New York City where she later had her first two children. The family temporarily relocated to Puerto Rico where they had their last two children. They later relocated to Miami, Florida. The family continued to live their lives together while raising their four children, Mable Sanchez (Jorge), Edgard Rodriguez (Mariessette), Ferdinand Rodriguez (Aixa), and Harry Rodriguez (Laura). Zoraida is survived by her husband; four children; twelve grandchildren, Carlos R. Almodovar, Nadine Villafañe (Luis), Ferdinand H. Rodriguez (Katherine Gonzalez), Sergio A. Rodriguez (Marta C. Vazquez), Krystal N. Rodriguez, Jamira D. Rodriguez, Kristopher A. Martinez, Sebastian A. Rodriguez, Edgard A. Rodriguez, Emilio A. Rodriguez, Emely Rodriguez, and Zacharry Rodriguez; two great grandchildren, Alondra Villafañe and Fabian A. Rodriguez; and, a number of other loving relatives and close friends.