Maria was born on November 14, 1945 in Camuy, Puerto Rico to the late Fabian Ruiz and Baldomera Rodriguez.
Maria came from humble beginnings and spent most of her life helping others. She worked with the Adams County Migrant Clinic and the Wellspan Gettysburg Hospital as a Spanish Interpreter. Maria became well known in the community and was called upon by many agencies. Maria was a member of St. Francis-Xavier Catholic Church in Gettysburg. She will be missed by so many, especially her family and friends.
She is survived by her loving husband, Jose C. Ponce; her children, Miguel Rivera (Port St. Lucie, FL), Edwin Rivera (Philadelphia, PA), and Miriam Brown (Waxhaw, NC); her grandchildren, Luccia Ly, Ariela Rivera, Victoria Brown, Joseph Brown, Thayne Rivera, Marina Rivera, and Lacey Rivera; and her siblings, Brenda Meadows, Mary Velasquez, Anna Sisco, Carmen Arbelo, and David Ruiz.
In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her siblings, Jose Ramon Ruiz, Pastor Ruiz, Felicita Galan, Monserrate Ruiz, Victor Ruiz, and Alberto Ruiz.
There will be a viewing held on Monday, February 12, 2024 at the Monahan Funeral Home in Gettysburg, PA from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. There will be a service in Ft. Pierce, FL at the St. Anastasia Catholic Church with burial at the Riverview Memorial Park in Fort Pierce, FL at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mariaâs name to the American Heart Association (heart.org)
Online tributes and condolences can be made at monahanfuneralhome.com.
This obituary was originally published here.