Maria Dolores Espinosa's Obituary
Maria Dolores Espinosa (nee Belardo), passed away peacefully in her home after a long fight with Alzeheimer’s on Sunday, September 13, 2020 while surrounded by her husband of 63 years, Jose Luis Espinosa Soto, her children and close family.
Maria Dolores Espinosa (nee Belardo) was born on March 30, 1937 in Fredericksted, St. Croix, USVI. She is survived by her husband Jose Luis Espinosa Soto, her eleven children; Yosef, Olivia, David, Judith, Joel, Eunice, Janice, Juan, Jeremiah, Timothy and Jasmine; 35 biological and step/adopted grandchildren and 26 biological and step/adopted great-grandchildren, sister Idalia Belardo St. Luce, two half-sisters, Nilsa and Marie Belardo, an adoptive sister, Inez Armstrong along with countless nieces, nephews and cousins. She was a long-time member of the Congregation of Yahweh Casa del Alfarero. She was also a retiree of Bergen Community College in Paramus, NJ where she worked for seventeen years.
In 2013, Maria Dolores was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Due to the advancement of this diagnosis, her husband and she relocated from Puerto Rico to Florida to be closer to their children where she would receive the loving care from her family. She was a strong and courageous woman who demonstrated her strength to the very end. Her strong faith was the foundation by which she was able to become an exemplary sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to all she came in contact with.
She will be fondly remembered as a quiet woman of strong character and quick wit who always had encouraging words and funny jokes to make your day. When asked to describe such a phenomenal woman, words like kind, compassionate, vibrant, loving, forgiving, humble come to mind. She was dearly loved by her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all those who had the honor of knowing her.
In lieu of flowers, she has requested donations be made to the Alzheimer/Dementia Foundation, St. Jude or Hospice. Anyone wishing to make a personal contribution may contact her daughter, Eunice Dominguez via email at [email protected] for information.
Services will be held at Sunset Memory Gardens, 11005 N. US-301, Thonotosassa, FL 33592 on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 12 noon with the burial following immediately after.
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