Lazaro Ignacio Mendoza

Lazaro "Larry" Ignacio Mendoza, 87, was born in Malolos, Bulacan, Philippines on December 17, 1934, and passed peacefully at the Community Hospice in Jacksonville, Florida on July 7, 2022, with his family at his side.
He served for over 20 years in the United States Navy (USN) retiring with an honorable discharge as a Storekeeper Chief (SKC). He continued work as a civil servant for the Federal Government and went on to retire a second time after working as an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Auditor and Procurement Officer for the USN at Mayport Naval Station, Florida.
As a young man, Larry would often dream of coming to America while tending to his Carabao (water buffalo) out in the rice fields. He would tell his children, "I would look up and see airplanes fly overhead, and I thought to myself, one day I would be on one of them." His dream for a life in America came to fruition after marrying the love of his life, Zenaida "Aida" Cordero Villania. He later would take his first of three children and his wife out to Alameda, California where he would be stationed with the USN.
Larry would enjoy the benefits of service by traveling to different duty stations that included Japan, Rhode Island and Hawaii. He took advantage of the GI Bill and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Jones College. He and his wife would buy their first property and called Jacksonville, Florida home. In his later years, he and his wife would enjoy many cruises as they sailed to distant locations around the world with many friends and family. He enjoyed fellowship with the tight knit group of friends he called Fil-Am Club family. To Larry, he considered his greatest success in life was his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He never once thought what he did for them was a sacrifice, but rather a God given blessing.
Preceded in death by his father, Marcelo Santiago Mendoza, his mother, Catalina Ignacio, his brothers and sisters, and his great granddaughter. He is survived by his wife of 61 glorious years, Zenaida Cordero Villania Mendoza, his sons, Adam and his wife Leta, Brandon and his wife Tina, his daughter, Melissa Coyne and her husband Kevin. Larry's grandchildren, Tabitha Baldwin (Chase), Brooke Rouse (Krys), Addison Mendoza (Emily), Baillie Bedford (Josh), Gage Coyne (Ashlee), Marla Myrick (Garrett), Blane Mendoza, Savannah Mendoza, and his 14 great grandchildren.
A viewing will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with rosary prayers starting at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12th at Beaches Chapel by Hardage-Giddens, 1701 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250.
A Catholic mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 2400 Mayport Road, Jacksonville, FL 32233 and given by Father Rafael Lavilla on July 13th at 10:00 a.m.
A committal service with Full Military Honors will be at Beaches Memorial Park, 1500 Main Street, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233. Following the Mass.
A reception will be held after the internment at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church reception hall.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hardage-giddensbeacheschapel.com for the Mendoza family.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of HARDAGE-GIDDENS FUENRAL HOME In Jacksonville Beach FL.