Obituary: Luz Maria, 79, of Hamden

HAMDEN, CT - (From Sisk Brothers Funeral Home) Luz Maria of Hamden died peacefully at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Luz Maria was born in Utuado, Puerto Rico and was the daughter of the late Celestina Lugo and Juan Melendez.

She was predeceased by her husband Modesto Ayala, her sisters Guillermina, Maria, Carmen, Marcelina, and Felisa Melendez. She lived alternately between Puerto Rico, Philadelphia, PA, and New Haven, CT.

Luz Maria was a loving mother, who raised six children and who cared for many others as a beloved mother figure.

She was known for her loving, generous heart, her faith, and her fierce determination to stay as independent as possible through many physical challenges.

She was renowned for her fabulous Puerto Rican cooking (and never used a recipe!) which she could still prepare even after she lost her sight. Feeding people brought her great joy. Luz Maria was a kidney transplant recipient and was grateful for the ultimate gift from an anonymous donor and family, which provided her more than fifteen years of extended life.

Luz Maria is survived by her children: Manuel Ayala (Brooke), Gilberto Ayala (Arisbel), Wilfredo Ayala (Leyla), Jaime Ayala (Olga), Leonardo Ayala (Maria), and Norma Ayala (Luis), her brother Juan Lugo and sister Iris Melendez along with a large extended family including countless loving grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Luz Maria’s family would like to thank her compassionate caregivers at Yale New Haven Hospital, Vitas Hospice, Mary Wade Nursing Home, and the New England Donor Services, as well as many other providers over the years.

A gathering of family and friends will take place on Thursday June 10 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:45 p.m., at Sisk Brothers Funeral Home 3105 Whitney Ave. in Hamden, CT. Burial will be at the Evergreen Cemetery, 769 Ella Grasso Boulevard New Haven, CT on June 11 at 10 a.m.

Please meet at the cemetery office. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Transplant Foundation - www.americantransplantfoundation.org.

To leave online condolences, please visit www.siskbrothers.com.