Obituary of Juanita Ortiz Torres

Juanita Ortiz Torres passed peacefully surrounded by her family on July 5, 2022. She was the daughter of Jose Ortiz and Maria Torres and was predeceased by a sister and two brothers. Juanita was 87 years old and was married to Reyes Santos Martinez who passed 6 years earlier. We were blessed to have spent so much time with her and to be at her side as she passed at the same hour as her husband and on the date of their 68th wedding anniversary. She was blessed with a large and loving family.

She is survived by her daughters, Carmen, Maria de los Angeles, Gladys, Magdalena and Norma; along with her son’s Reyes Jr., Juan and Jose. Juanita was predeceased by two of her children, Maria Antonia and Julia. She has 19 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; she was a special godmother to many of her friends’ children and countess others in her church community.

Apart from raising nine children she was a woman of faith who served her community tirelessly along with her husband who was a deacon in the catholic church. Juanita will be missed and cherished for her strength of character, sense of humor and convictions. She had a strong work ethic and was a persistent believer in self advocacy. She insisted on fairness, truth and honesty. She was above all a loving mother who taught us all the value of hard work, perseverance, self respect and speaking up for yourself. She dedicated much of her life to service to the community both in Puerto Rico and in Connecticut.

While she taught us many lessons she did teach us the importance of family and service to others. She was a modest woman who despite her diminutive size was strong, lively and feisty. Juanita would wish for her children and all those who knew her to remember her kindness, strong faith and love and she would want us all to move forward in peace always doing good deeds.

Calling hours are at Tierney Funeral Home, 219 West Center St, Manchester, CT., on Friday, July 22 from 9:00 a.m. till 10:30 a.m., with mass at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the Assumption, 27 Adams St. So., Manchester, followed by interment at East Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers we ask that you consider a donation to Connecticut Food Share to feed the hungry, go to www.ctfoodshare.org in the name of Juanita Ortiz Torres.

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