Wallesca Ortiz

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Wallesca Ortiz, 44, of Castleton Corners, a bank financial services associate who will be remembered for her love for her family, her work ethic and her great smile, died Sunday in Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, she also lived in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, before returning to her native borough in 1990. She moved to Castleton Corners 15 years ago.

Ms. Ortiz had been working as a financial services associate for Richmond County Bank for 15 years. She worked at different branches according to need, and was respected and loved by her co-workers, her family said.

"She was dedicated to her job and her family, and was a strong person and a hard worker. She was friendly and caring, and she had a great smile and an infectious laugh. She was beautiful inside and out," said her son, Luie Garcia.

Ms. Ortiz enjoyed cooking, solving word search puzzles, playing video games and watching soap operas on television.

She loved time spent with her family, especially her newest grandchild.

Surviving, along with her son, Luie, are her sons, Angel, Rafael and Joshua Ortiz; her daughter, Angelica Ortiz; a brother, Israel Ortiz; a sister, Lizette Ortiz; her grandfather, Israel Ortiz, and two grandchildren.

The funeral will be Friday from the Casey Funeral Home, Castleton Corners, with a mass at 10 a.m. in St. Rita's R.C. Church, Meiers Corners. Burial will follow in Silver Mount Cemetery, Silver Lake.