Manuel Mendez

Our beloved patriarch Manuel Mendez “Derín” was called by our dear Lord on January 20th 2025. Manuel was a dedicated husband to Ursulina whom on May 29th 2024 they celebrated 75 years of marriage. Within those years they had two children Manuel Mendez Jr. and Maria Correa - Mendez. Manuel Mendez Jr. “Junior” graced him with four grandchildren, Amanda, David, Madeline, & Catherine. Some of those grandchildren even had children of their own to make Manuel a proud great great grandfather. Maria his mariposa, blessed him with Ashley her only daughter who was born on their wedding anniversary. Manuel raised her as a child of his own with Ursulina and Maria.

Art, Nature, Music, Carpentry and anything that was creative were Manuel’s passions. He loved painting, tending to his garden, he truly was a jack of all trades. His love of nature started from birth in his home town of Moca, Puerto Rico and continued on through out his life. He played the Spanish guitar called the quatro. He would play for Ursulina and his loved ones to ensure we would hear music from his island.

Manuel came to NY in the late 1940’s and found his career in bartending. He became a bartender at the prestigious Yale Club. He loved working there and talking to all the clients and hearing their stories. He worked there for over 35 years and after retirement he still kept in touch with his fellow peers at the Annual Retiree Dinner.

Manuel loved living his life surrounded by his loved ones and will forever be watching over everyone who he cherished in his life. His is now in the hands of God.

A visitation for Manuel will be held Tuesday, January 28, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at R. Stutzmann & Son, 224 39 Jamaica Ave, Queens Village, NY 11428. A funeral mass will occur Wednesday, January 29, 2025 from 10:45 AM to 11:45 AM at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, 9296 220th St, New York, NY 11428. A graveside service will occur Wednesday, January 29, 2025 from 12:45 PM to 1:30 PM at St Raymond New Cemetery, 2600 Lafayette Ave, New York, NY 10465.