Norma Lens

Norma Lens was more than just a name; she was a testament to a life well-lived, marked by her success, tenacity and love for her family. On January 8th, 2025, Norma passed away peacefully at the age of 96, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come.

She was born on September 10th,1928 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. She came to New York alone in her later teens and raised a family of 4 in what her final home would be for 65 years in the Upper West Side on 83rd Street.

She was an entrepreneur owning her own bodega with her husband, Carlos Lens, on 83rd Street, then on East 26th Street and finally a newspaper stand in the subway station on Brook Avenue in the Bronx. As her businesses evolved, she continued to support her family, working at different establishments such as Woolworths and Conways and finally as a home attendant taking care of the elderly.

She is survived by her daughters, Merna Vega Eatmon and Michelle Lens-Leon, her sons, Carlos Vega and Carlos Lens and grandchildren, Jelani, Fenuku, Irisa, Carlos, Natalia, Cheyenne, Armond, Anthony and Alessandra, and great grandchildren Fenuku, Samayah and soon to be born twins from her grandson Anthony.

A funeral mass will be held on January 13, 2025, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am at Holy Trinity Church, located at 213 W 82nd St, New York, NY 10024.