Olga Iris Ortiz

Olga Ortiz, a widower and mother of four, was 83 years old when God called her to join his army of angels. In accepting God’s call, she joined her daughter Olga Ortiz (her namesake), her parents Julia Galarza and Bartolo Gonzales, her sisters Catalina “Catin” Gonzalez-Galarza, Julia “Juli” Gonzalez-Garlaza, Hilda “Awilda” Crespo, and a host of other members of her family and friends. She is survived by her sister Luz-Celenia “Lucy” Gonzalez-Galarza, her daughter Yolanda ”Yoly” Ortiz, her sons Carmelo “Papo” and Edwin “Chino” Ortiz, her grandsons Dwayne “Papi” and Kenneth “Boobie” Ortiz and Louis “Moochie” Evangelista, her granddaughters Melissa “Meli” Ortiz 1 and Ana Camacho, her great granddaughters Karina and Arianna and Alesia Ortiz, Tiana Pencile, Kay’le Ortiz, Kassandra and Jaylene Rodriguez, India Muhammad, and great grandson Israel Muhammad. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law Nora “Cana” Soler, her grandson’s wife Julyana “Julie” Ortiz, her first-cousin Brunilda “Bruni” Ramirez, her uncle Eduvino Galarza, her nieces Julie and Elizabeth Gonzalez, her nephews Edgar and Oscar Lopez, and a host of other beloved and dear family members and friends. To all, thank you. Olga was born in Lares, Puerto Rico on October 13, 1940. She married at a very young age. While life had dealt her some heart-wrenching blows, she managed to survive and live a full life, bringing joy and happiness to everyone she encountered along the way. She was super generous and kind to strangers and friends alike. She saw the humanity in everyone that she encountered and treated everyone with kindness. For 30 years, while her sons languished in prison, she religiously and without fail knocked on the prison gates to visit with them. One of her greatest joys in life was welcoming her son’s back home. She was nothing short of a great mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Everyone who knew her loved her. She blessed everyone that she came into contact with with kind words and gestures. Olga was, is, and will forever remain the matriarch and rock of the Ortiz family. Rest in Peace Big Mama!

Family and friends are invited to the visitation on Saturday, March 30th, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Interment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.

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