Remedios Lucena Montesa

Remedios strongly believed in the value of education, a belief she instilled in her children and grandchildren. She persevered to achieve her high school diploma shortly after the war, despite contracting tuberculosis, which interrupted her studies. In her 50s, Remedios returned to education, taking two years’ worth of work-related courses at Queensborough Community College to further her knowledge in business and finance.

On the professional front, Remedios first started working as an English, Tagalog and Japanese translator at a Japanese military hospital in Manila, during the wartime occupation. After moving to New York, she worked as an Operator at AT&T, and later, in the Check Reconciliations Department at Manufacturers Hanover Trust. She became a Manager at MHT before retiring.

Traveling with her family was an important part of life for Remedios. Having visited many countries in Asia, Africa and Europe, her greatest adventures were moving from the Philippines to Ghana, then moving from Ghana to New York on July 1969, in her last trimester of pregnancy with her youngest daughter, her husband and three children.

Despite living the last year of her life in Arkansas, Remedios’s heart firmly belonged in New York, where she raised her children and helped raise her grandchildren in the Catholic faith.

A loving mother, Remedios is preceded in death by her husband, Enrico D. Montesa. She is survived by her 5 children: Ramona L. Montesa of Queens, NY; Enrico L. Montesa, Jr. & Mavis Alforque Montesa of White Plains, NY; Ruth L. Montesa & David Testerman of Queens, NY;Rebecca L. Montesa & Chi Lon Wong of Cave Springs, AR; and Raquel Montesa Mierswa & Martin Mierswa of London, England. Remedios was a beloved grandmother to Deborah, Dylan, Daniel & Dawson Montesa; Emily, Casey & Nicholas Wong and Natalie Mierswa.

A visitation is scheduled for Thursday, June 2nd from 3:00pm - 7:00pm at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Rd, Westwood, NJ 07675.

Before the burial, a funeral service will be conducted at Ascension Cemetery Chapel on Friday, June 3rd from 11:00am - to 11:30am, 650 Saddle River Road, Airmont, NY 10952.