Obituary: Alessia Maria Mesquita, 28, of New Haven

NEW HAVEN, CT - (From Washington Memorial Funeral Home) Alessia Maria Mesquita, 28 of New Haven passed away suddenly on Monday, March 22, 2021.

Alessia was born in New Haven on June 20, 1992, a beautiful daughter of Sandra Mesquita of New Haven and George Maldonado of Florida, and step-daughter of Rico Little, "Pops" as she called him.

Alessia was a lifelong resident of New Haven. She graduated from East Haven Adult Education. She worked for many years at Home Depot until she decided she wanted to go into the medical field, and graduated from Branford Hall as a Medical Assistant.

Alessia was employed as a medical assistant prior to her death. She absolutely loved her job and all her patients.

Alessia loved, and was extremely proud of her Portuguese and Puerto Rican heritage.

She always said, "she had the best of both worlds." Alessia is predeceased by her maternal grandparents Cutodio and Ilda Mesquita, her brother Armando Maldonado, and her cousins Victor "VEE" Mesquita and Michael Bertier.

Besides her parents and step-father, Alessia leaves to cherish her memory two children whom she adored, Joseph Rey Martinez, III and Alaia Grace Newton, her husband Joseph Martinez, Jr., his parents, Joseph and Niurka Martinez who helped co-parent "Baby Joe" during their mutual separation, her paternal grandmother, Sylvia Ramirez of West Palm Beach, Florida, five brothers, US Army Chief Warrant Officer II George Rodríguez, Jr. of Honolulu, HI, whom she was so proud to call her big brother, Corey Maldonado, Josmani Maldonado, and Alex Maldonado of Florida, and Antonio Jones and Maurice Jones of New Haven, six sisters, Aliya Caraway, Sasha Jones, Ricaiya Little and Laiyla Little of New Haven and Jessica Maldonado and Jessenia Maldonado of Florida, her aunts, Maria Rodríguez, Crissy Bertier, Maritza Encarnación, Griselle Brenes-McFadden and Ita Brenes of New Haven, Jeannette Rodríguez of Florida and Jeanna Szostek of West Haven, her uncles, Victor (Jeanna) Mesquita, Robert Maldonado, Miguel (Maria) Bonilla and Frank (Jeanette) Montalvo, her niece, Ashliyah Vázquez, nephew Bryson Colón, sisters in law, Tiffany, Nickky and Andy, and her brother-in-law Devon Colón. She also leaves her best friends, Xiomaraliz "Peppels", Tianna, Yayi, Janie, Lisa, Zullie, Asia and Leysha, her favorite family friend "Ze Ze", and so many cousins, friends, extended family and co-workers.

Alessia was a beautiful woman with a heart of gold, and a smile brighter than the sunshine. She lit any room she entered.

Alessia will be missed more than words can say. Her kindness and loving ways will never be forgotten.

Alessia's family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, March 29th from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at Iglesia Cristiana Estrella Resplandeciente de Jacob (formerly Second Star of Jacob Church), 185 Chapel Street, New Haven.

A funeral service will take place at 11:30 a.m. at the church. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven.

The Washington Memorial Funeral Home, 4 Washington Ave., North Haven has been entrusted with arrangements