Gladys Maria Moreno August 09, 1935 – September 08, 2018 Share this obituary Send Flowers View/Sign Guest Book| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Gladys Maria Moreno Diaz was born on August 9, 1935 in Central Pellejas, Adjuntas, Puerto Rico. The daughter of Catalina Rosado Santiago and Juan Diaz Rivera. Gladys (Mami) has 5 sisters and two brothers.
As a teenager Mami dreamt of being a nurse and found her first love, Samuel, but fate would step in and she left Puerto Rico at 19 years old and arrived in New York. She spent a few years in NY before moving to California to be with her older sister, Esther. As fate would once again determine, in 1958, Mami met her future husband, Raul, through her brother-in-law, Filemon.
From this marriage, they had five children, Nitza, Perla, Rosaura, Raul Jr. (Raulito) and Emma (Chiqui). When she arrived in San Francisco, Mami went to work at a company that recycled clothing that she lovingly called “Los trapos”. Like most women in our family, Mami balanced work and raising her children.
Leveraging her passion for cooking, Mami found her calling- cooking for children at the Mission Childcare Consortium where we benefited with the leftovers. Here is where Mami met and married Gustavo Moreno where they enjoyed a few years together. Years later she was hired by Olympic Graphics as a book binder where she worked until retirement.
Mami demonstrated love to us or anyone who entered her home through her cooking. Mami took the time to cook our favorite foods, especially on our birthdays, but our favorite time of year was Christmas because we knew that we would eat an array of her specialties of lechon, arroz con gandules, her delicious macaroni salad and her sons-in-law’s favorite- piñon. She was filled with warmth and joy from watching us enjoy her food.
Her passion of cooking went beyond her children; it went to our husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends and neighbors. As time went on, Mami was thrilled to welcome grandchildren. Having raised her five children, she could now focus on being a grandmother and great-grandmother and do what grandmothers do best-spoil the grandchildren.
They too felt their grandmother’s love and affection and another generation nourished their souls with her cooking. In later years, Mami began to slow down and faced many health ailments however, she still found a way to put her beloved food on the table. In 2015, Mami faced her biggest challenge which affected her both physically and mentally.
Although Mami tried to remain positive and faithful, the lack of mobility and being able to take care of herself proved to be her biggest obstacle which eventually lead to her passing. We will always remember Mami’s beauty and her generous heart, but the memory that will always remain is Mami playing and singing to Javier Solis, wearing her apron and cooking an abundance of food for her family that she loved so much. Mami is survived by her children, Nitza (Tony), Perla (Teddy), Rosaura (Ricardo), Raulito (Nevine), Chiqui (“Esteve”); her grandchildren, Andrew, Justin, Vanessa (Gary), Gabriella, Monica, Jesse, Dakota, Cheyenne, Isabella, Maya, Ayana, Dayne and Benicio; her great-grandchildren Anthony, Alex, Leilah, Lily and Mila; her sisters Miriam and Carmen (Ernest); her nieces and nephews Carmen, Rosita, Ivette, Mildred, Jose; Carlos, Gabriel, Hector, Juan; Irvin, Gisela and Emmanuel; Orlando, Ana & Raul.
And so many others, too numerous to name. Additionally, through God’s grace and mercy Mami loved our siblings Enrique, Sonya, Bonnie and Becky. But most importantly Mami came to allow our father back into her life and embrace our stepmother, Tere, leaving us in their loving arms.
Mami will always live through us with our love of music and food. She will forever be in our hearts. We love you Mami!
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