Engracia Cofresi born on May 15, 1927 in Ponce, Puerto Rico made her final journey while surrounded by loved ones in Palm Bay, Florida on April 5, 2018. Engracia was a proud army wife who supported and cared for her family 100%. She was so happy to have reached 90 years of living and to have been the matriarch of her growing family.
Engracia better known as Grace, married in 1945 at the age of 18 in a civil ceremony to Gilberto Cofresi. They married 42 years later in the church at Our Lady of Lourdes, Melbourne, Florida. They were married 54 years when he predeceased her.
Grace came to Brevard County in 1972 from Ft. Campbell KY where her husband Gilberto Cofresi retired after serving 30 years in the Army. Her church community was important to her, which led her to singing in the choir, cooking for church functions as needed, participating in church retreats, and ministering to the sick. Everyone always mentioned her beautiful smile and charisma.
Grace’s children always considered her “The Best Mom”. They say this because while their dad was away for four years in one of his tours, she held the family together by being both Mom and Dad, teaching them good moral values and loving God as well as trusting in Him entirely. As a hobby, she worked in her garden at the house for many years. She also loved cooking and had a gift for such dishes as Spaghetti a la Carbonera, Pescado (fish) in Escabeche, Carne Mechada (Meat stuffed with ham, peppers, onions), different kinds of rice dishes etc… Her sofrito (base for cooking) was considered one of the best, and made her dishes taste extra special.
Grace is survived by her three children and spouses: Luz M. and Jose Vazquez, Gilberto (“Tito”), Thelma Cofresi, and Frieda V. and Luis Santiago; her nine grandchildren: Luz Veronica and James “Trey” Moore, Ana Margarita and Miguel Esparza, Jose and Karina Vazquez, Joshua Vazquez, Gil and Cassie Cofresi, Maris and Leroy Cofresi-Salley, Shari Cofresi, Luis R. and Mellissa Santiago, Carlos M. and Kristi Santiago; her 16 great-grandchildren: Gabriela Moore, Daniel Moore, Dominic Moore, Miguel Esparza, Jose Esparza, Cristian Esparza, Isabella Vazquez, Jose Mariano Vazquez, Alexa Cofresi, Dominic Cofresi, Elissia Cofresi Horlback, Jalaina Salley, Gavin Moses Horlback, Logan Santiago, Joselyn Santiago, Ivan Santiago; and her two great-great-grandchildren: Aleya Cofresi and Kaleb Cofresi
A visitation will be held Friday, April 13, 2018 at 6:00 pm at The Life Event Center at Florida Memorial, 5950 South US Highway 1, Rockledge, FL. A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Lourdes, 1710 Hickory Street, Melbourne, FL.
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