Concepcion Cruz

Concepcion (Acevedo) Cruz, 84 of Worcester, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 26, 2021 at her home with her beloved family by her side.

Concepcion (Conchita) was born on April 4, 1936 in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico, a daughter of the late Adelo Acevedo Valentin and Juanita Ortiz Montalvo. She came to Worcester as a young woman and Mother with her two daughters, where she worked hard in manufacturing at various factories for many years before retiring from Killeen Machine Tool Co.  Conchita was extremely proud and passionate about her Puerto Rican/Borikua heritage. She was a community activist in the City of Worcester.  She was the first president of the Concilio de Padres/Spanish Speaking Parents Council advocating for better, equal education for Latino students, due to the advocacy and efforts of the group having brought a law suit against the city, the Worcester School Committee agreed to compliance of the settlement for the implementation of Bi-lingual education under the historic Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974, for all non-English speaking students in the city. She truly believed in making life better for her fellow Latinos and passionate about what was fair and just for all. She was a person of great faith and love for all.

Conchita’s life was her familia, they came first.  She was a true matriarch who was greatly loved. She is survived by her two beloved daughters, Nancy Cruz de Piniero and her husband Hector Piniero and Maritza Cruz, all of Worcester; four grandchildren, Alejandra E. Piniero-Rodriguez and her husband Louis A. Rodriguez, Hector E. Piniero, Victoria C. Zayas and her fiancé Casey Comisky and Domingo A. Santiago, all of Worcester; one great grandchild, Elena Valentina Rodriguez; and her beloved little dog Nena. Four brothers, Ramon Acevedo of Worcester, Andres, Elizer and Sergio Acevedo, all of Puerto Rico; two sisters, Dignora Acevedo, of Worcester and Adela Acevedo of Puerto Rico; two nieces Evelyn and Nancy Faris of Worcester, and many other nieces and nephews of Puerto Rico. She is predeceased by two brothers, Cecilio and Andres Acevedo.

Burial for Concepcion will be held privately.  There are no calling hours.  MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St., Worcester are honored to be assisting the family with arrangements.