Edwin O. Cruz of Valrico, Florida departed this life on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, peacefully at home after a long illness.  He was preceded in his death by his parents, Santiago Cruz Rivera and Virgen Maria Roque Ortiz, as well as his sister Ruth "Miriam" Cruz Roque.

Edwin moved to Syracuse, NY from Puerto Rico as a young man and worked at Nestles Chocolate Factory in Fulton, NY until he retired to Florida in 2000.  His favorite pastime was fishing and going to the beach, he loved old cars and spending time with his family.

He leaves to mourn his wife of 49 years Virgen "Millie" Cruz, his children Edwin "Ito" O. Cruz Jr. (Kesha), IdaLiz Richardson (Tommy "Toma"),  Xiomara Cruz Ramos (Richard),  Jennifer "Ňeca"  Allen (Craig "Creque"), Dwight "Kiki" LaFlair (Jenny) all of Valrico, FL, his grandchildren William "Guiermo" Figueroa, Abimael  "Abi" Rodriguez (Syracuse, NY), Alexis Herrera Cruz(Syracuse, NY), Yasmeen "Fuchi" Allen, Maritza "Mari" Cruz, Jhensey Ramos, Tommeke "Toňo" Richardson, Edwin "Mikey" Cruz III  and Giselle "Yiyo" Allen,  three great-grandchildren Nanielis "Nani" Herrera Cruz (Syracuse, NY), Zoey Massiel LaFlair and Amelia Sophia Ramos both of Valrico, FL.  Two Brothers, Rafael "Josian" Cruz of Puerto Rico, Hector Cruz (Eloina) of Lakeland, FL, 5 sisters Luz Nereida Cruz (Hector), Gloria Cruz (Estanislao), Maria "Cuca" Cruz, Ada Nelly Cruz (Luis)  all of Puerto Rico, Rosa Enid Velasquez (Alexis) of Alabama and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The Memorial Service will be on Saturday, December 3, 2022, from 12:00 pm- 1:00 pm at Serenity Meadows Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 6919 Providence Rd, Riverview, FL 33578.

Messages of Condolence can be left at https://www.serenitymeadows. com/obits

Donations can be sent to Cash App:  $Tunga1957

For those who are not able to attend, services will be live-streamed via Facebook.

It is up to those who bear his memory to keep his goodness alive. We do this by remembering him, we do this by speaking his name, and we do this by carrying on his legacy!