Maria "Mary" Cruz

After battling 17 years with dementia, Maria [Mary] Cruz passed away on Friday, February 18, 2022. She was born on July 22, 1933 in New Braunfels, Texas. She came to Michigan with her parents and siblings in 1955, and worked in the onion fields near Charlotte, Michigan, where she met her husband, Leonardo [Leonard] Cruz. They were married almost 50 years, until dad passed in 2005, just 7 months short of their 50th wedding anniversary.

Mom was the best cook ever. She made the best flour tortillas and her favorite Mexican dish were cheese & onion enchiladas. She also made the best tamales. Mom ran a clean house, and somehow managed to keep it spotless with seven kids, then in later years with all her grandchildren who she loved having overnight and spending time with. Mom loved the family gatherings, whether it was at her house or at a park or venue. She loved to garden, she would go around the yard picking out weeds, she liked planting tomato & jalapeno plants to make pico di gallo; she loved her rose bushes our dad had gifted her, and she even had them moved from one house to another. The one thing she loved the most was going to Mexican dances with dad. She taught her sons how to lead in dancing, while dad taught the daughters how to follow. Together mom and dad would rule the dance floors. Even towards the end, while visiting her in her room, her daughters would play her favorite songs and she'd give out a "gritar" (Spanish for "woot woot"). She wasn't shy when it came to listening to music and knew all the words.

She is survived by her seven children: Josefina [Josie] Cruz, Miguel [Mike] Cruz (Michelle Cruz), Daniel [Dan] Cruz (Pam Cruz), Thelma [Tammy] Cruz, Enrique [Henry] Cruz (Marlene Cruz), Rebecca [Becky] Cruz, all of Michigan, and Leonardo [Lenny] Cruz (Michelle Cruz) of North Carolina. And twelve grandchildren: Thomas Hoskins (Cristie Aguilar) of Texas; Eric (Erica Hoskins) Hoskins of Tennessee; Elizabeth Cruz, Joshua Cruz (Amanda Hurst), Journie Cruz (Austin Opdyke), Dan Cruz (Gwynne Cruz), Sara Cruz (Justin Geiger), Jessica O'Loughlin (Alex O'Loughlin), Michael Cruz (Johana Cruz), Marty Cruz, all of Michigan; and Olivia Cruz of North Carolina, Easton Cruz of North Carolina. Also, her great-grandchildren: Micah, Landon, Ellek, Yohan, Yaro, Kamden, Brenna, Carsyn, Danny, Trevor, Evelyn, Geo, Athena, Lillian, Miles, Mila, Apollo, Kane, Yasmin, Karmel, Romeo, & Audrina.

Mary is also survived by two brothers: Cirildo [Cid] Silvas (Dora Silvas) and Pedra [Pete] Silvas (Maria Silvas) of Michigan. She is preceded in death by her parents Pedro and Felicita Silvas; brothers: Juan, Frank, Blaz, Matilde, David, and sister Jobie. She has many nieces and nephews who she loved as her own children.

She will be missed by all!

Funeral Mass Service will be held on Monday at 11:00 AM, February 28, 2022 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 807 St Marys Blvd, Charlotte, MI. The family will welcome visitors at 10:00 AM until the time of mass. A luncheon will follow at the church. Feel free to bring pictures to share/show, and enjoy the time with other family members and friends, as that is how Mary would've wanted it to be.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grlansing.com for the Cruz family.