Obituary of Raida E. Gonzalez

Raida E. Gonzalez, 87, of Maple St. Addison, was called home on Thursday, March 7, 2024 in the presence of her loving daughters. Raida was born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico on December 4, 1936, the daughter of Homer and Maria Rivera McCoon. In 1951, at the age of 15, she left Puerto Rico and moved to New York City to live with her aunt and uncle and assist them with their family. It was in New York that Raida met her future husband Jesus Manuel Gonzalez. They married in Brooklyn on December 16, 1962. Jesus died very young on April 7, 1966, leaving Raida with three young children to raise. She moved her family to Addison in 1967 where she provided for them, initially as a cook at local restaurants, including the Hot Spot, the Silver Top and the Grove Diner. She than was employed by the Addison School District as a monitor. Raida eventually worked at the Erwin Automotive Plant in Erwin from where she retired. Raida was a longtime parishioner of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Addison and was a very active member of the Addison Eagles Club Auxiliary and the Addison American Legion Auxiliary. Besides her parents and husband, Jesus Manuel, she was predeceased by her son, Jesus Manuel, her grandson, Roberto Alejandro Gonzalez and her sisters, Carmen Kessel, Tomasa Tunnicliff and Gertrude Hall. Raida is survived by her daughters, Marta Gonzalez and Marixa Gonzalez, both of Addison, her grandchildren, Anthony Alan Gonzalez, Lacritia (Ryan) Asad and Alejandro Gonzalez, her great grandchildren, Anthony Alan Gonzalez II, Angeles Gonzalez and Arriz Gonzalez, her sister, Sonia McCoon of Corning and several nieces and nephews. Friends may call on Sunday, March 10 from 2 to 5 pm at the H.P. Smith & Son Funeral Home, 1607 Main St Woodhull, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 11 am at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, Maple St. Addison with Rev. Patrick Connor and her nephew, Rev. Jeffrey Tunnicliff officiating. Burial will be in St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Addison. Memorial donations are suggested for Care First Hospice.