Julia Nelly Méndez Bonilla of Riverdale, New York, passed away on the morning of April 25th, 2022, in her home, surrounded by her loving daughters and extended family. Julia, known as Pachela to her family and closest friends, was born on May 20th, 1941, to Ana Mercedes Bonilla and Dr. Juan Maria Alba Luna (Pachelo) and was raised by her step-father, Ernesto Vargas, in Santiago, Dominican Republic. She was the eldest of seven brothers and sisters: Nancy, Romel, Sheila, Luisa Argentina, Yris, and Martin. Julia was the mother of four daughters, Ana, Lissette, Erika, and Griska. Lissette and her husband Chris blessed her with a grandson Owen Leigh Boyer.
In her twenties, Julia worked as a secretary at an Insurance Company, helping to support her family during tumultuous years in the Caribbean country. On December 23rd, 1966, she married Fernando Jose Méndez and relocated to the Capital, Santo Domingo, to raise a family.
Following in her mother's footsteps, Julia immigrated with her family to New York in August 1980 to afford them a better life and opportunity for higher education. She soon found work as a factory worker, home cleaning, and cooking to care for her daughters. While working, Julia obtained her high school equivalence (GED) and graduated from The City College of New York with a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Spanish Literature. She worked as a Pre-K Teacher in St. Spyridon School in Washington Heights until her retirement.
Julia's steadfast belief in education and her hard-earned accomplishments led her daughters to follow in her footsteps. Ana is a Medical Doctor who completed a Master's in Public Health from Columbia University. Lissette Altagracia studied Architecture at City College and completed her Master's of Architecture in Urban Design at Harvard University. Her daughter Fatima Erika studied Music and Audio Technology at the Sonic Arts Center (CCNY), completed her Master’s in Media Studies at The New School and presently works at the United Nations. And Griska attended Lehman College to complete her Master's in Education and is currently an elementary school teacher in the Bronx. Their achievements would not be possible without their mother's support and example.
Julia was a devoted Catholic and a faithful member of the Cursillos de Cristiandad. She was a loving mother, a caring sister and aunt, a thoughtful friend, and a supportive daughter.
She will be memorialized on Thursday, April 28th, at Riverdale-on-Hudson Funeral Home, from 3 pm to 6 pm.
The funeral mass will be held on Friday, April 29th, at 9:45 am at St. Margaret of Cortona Church at 6000 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx, NY.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude’s Gift fund in memory of Julia Nelly Mendez Bonilla.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8