Miguel A Mateo

Miguel Angel Mateo De Jesus was born in Coamo, Puerto Rico, on August 5, 1930, to the late Francisco Mateo Espada and BuenaVentura DeJesus. He was the sixth of thirteen children and was preceded in death by nine siblings: Lydia, Felix, Carmen Lucia, Roberto, Onel, Virgenmina, Paquito, Wilfredo, and Sylvia; son, Jose Angel and grandson, Joshua Miles.

Miguel attended school until the third grade. At the age of seven he went to live with his older sister and started to work in the dairy farm as a helper, becoming proficient as a milker. Even though he was young, he quickly learned the importance of responsibility. While working there he learned to mount and train horses and attained a passion for them. He was hired specifically for his abilities to ride, break and train horses. Because Miguel traveled many back roads along the countryside, his eyes captured a young lady sweeping the front porch of their humble home, and he was captivated. No doubt, he was drawn to her feet, which were framed in modest wedge sandals, unusual to see in those days. He quietly vowed to himself, "I am going to marry that girl." Although, five years her senior, Miguel fervently sought Felicita and two years later they married, and have celebrated 68 years of marriage.

Miguel and Felicita moved in with his maternal grandmother to Coamo, in the district of the Calabazas. One year later they welcomed their first daughter, Maria Dolores followed by another daughter, two years later, Maria de los Angeles. They were delighted to welcome their third child, one year later, Miguel Angel. Miguel and Felicita were hired to work on the same cattle farm, Miguel as a farmer and Felicita, as a cook. Three years later, they welcomed their third daughter, Virgenmina, followed by their second son, Luis Angel, a year later. Within another year, they proudly welcomed their third son, Edwin Miguel.

In fearless pursuit to provide for his growing family, Miguel immigrated to the United States. He traveled from Florida to Ohio to Pennsylvania, working various jobs to support his family back in the island of Puerto Rico. Finally he settled in New Jersey where he felt the presence of his culture and fellow migrants. Felicita and the children followed in 1963 where they settled in Jersey City, New Jersey. It was in Jersey where Miguel would nurture new roots for the next 35 years. Miguel was hired working as a foreman at North Bergen Leather Company, where he faithfully worked for seventeen years. Felicita was hired as a seamstress, and their children began their educations in a new country. In 1965, Jose Angel, their fourth and last son was born. Four years later in 1969, they happily completed their family with the birth of their fourth daughter, Lissett.

As times changed, Miguel continued to persistently pursue employment, was hired and quickly became foreman of the shipping department at Pioneer Paper Corporation. It was during these years he organized the workers to invest in their very own means of transportation, a 15 person van which Miguel drove daily to secure the workers attendance and create another stream of income. He developed a reputation of reliability at work and home. After years of hard work and dedication to his children and wife, Miguel proved to be a pillar in his community and family. At 63, he and Felicita would finally retire and return to his beloved Coamo, Puerto Rico, where he organized to build a modest home for the next chapters of their love story.

After seven years on the island, a medical condition befell Felicita, causing the two to move back to the states, where their children would lovingly support her and see her health be restored. During this time, Miguel faithfully supported his wife, and continued to make an impact on his ever growing family, especially his grandchildren; Lisa, William, Luis, Monica, Jorge, Jose, Jessica, Edwin, Christopher, Jose Luis, Lauren, Jeremiah, and Paul Aaron. As time passed, Miguel sustained multiple health complications and fought through each which enabled him to witness his family tree grow beyond his wildest dreams. In the late years of his life, his great grandchildren; Brandon, Logan, Paige, John, Odelya, Adanna, Lianna, Nathan, Giovanni, Felicity, Sylas, and Madison came to know and love him.

Miguel lived a fulfilling and exemplary life as a husband, Papi (father), Abuelo "Felo" (grandfather), Tio (uncle) and friend. His strength, resilience and undying love for his family, lives on in the hearts and minds of us all. Although he will be greatly missed, his family is reassured to know we will see him again in eternity.