Maria E. Ortiz, 79, of Plainfield, New Jersey, peacefully passed away surrounded by her loving family on February 3, 2026.
Maria was born on May 28, 1946, in Guatemala City, Guatemala, to Rafael Echeverria and Juana Gonzalez. She later built a beautiful life rooted in family, love, and laughter.
She was the devoted wife to the love of her life, William Ortiz, who was the founder of La Reina Bakery in North Plainfield, on Somerset Street, and together they shared a lifetime of devotion. Maria was a loving and proud mother of five children, a cherished grandmother to twenty grandchildren, and a joyful great-grandmother to nine great-grandchildren. Her family was her greatest pride, and her home was always filled with warmth, food, and conversation.
Maria was truly a diva in the best sense of the word — a social butterfly who loved to joke around, laugh, and bring people together. She was known for making the best tamales, a labor of love that everyone looked forward to, and she never missed the simple pleasure of enjoying her pan con café. One of her favorite outings was a meal at Orlando’s Chicken in North Plainfield, NJ, a place tied to many happy memories.
Maria’s vibrant spirit, humor, and boundless love will be deeply missed but forever remembered by all who knew her. Her legacy lives on in the many lives she touched and the family she held so close.
Family and friends are welcome to visit on Friday, February 6th, from 5-9pm & Saturday February 7th, from 2-6pm in Scarpa Las Rosas Funeral Home, 22 Craig Place, North Plainfield, NJ 07060.
Funeral Service will commence on Monday, February 9th, 9:30am in the funeral home followed by an 11am Chapel Service in Rosehill Crematory, Linden.
~~~~~
María E. Ortiz, de 79 años, residente de Plainfield, Nueva Jersey, falleció en paz rodeada de su querida familia el 3 de febrero de 2026.
María nació el 28 de mayo de 1946 en Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala, hija de Rafael Echeverría y Juana González. Con el tiempo, construyó una hermosa vida basada en la familia, el amor y la alegría.
Fue la esposa devota del amor de su vida, William Ortiz, fundador de La Reina Bakery en North Plainfield, en Somerset Street, con quien compartió toda una vida de dedicación y compromiso. María fue una madre amorosa y orgullosa de cinco hijos, una querida abuela de veinte nietos y una feliz bisabuela de nueve bisnietos. Su familia fue siempre su mayor orgullo, y su hogar estuvo lleno de calidez, comida y conversaciones.
María era verdaderamente una diva en el mejor sentido de la palabra — una persona sociable que disfrutaba bromear, reír y reunir a todos a su alrededor. Era conocida por preparar los mejores tamales, hechos con amor y esperados con ilusión por todos, y nunca dejaba de disfrutar el simple placer de su pan con café. Uno de sus paseos favoritos era comer en Orlando’s Chicken en North Plainfield, un lugar lleno de recuerdos felices.
El espíritu vibrante de María, su sentido del humor y su amor incondicional serán profundamente extrañados, pero siempre recordados por todos los que la conocieron. Su legado vive en las muchas vidas que tocó y en la familia que tanto amó.
Familiares y amigos están cordialmente invitados a visitarla el viernes 6 de febrero, de 5:00 p.m. a 9:00 p.m., y el sábado 7 de febrero, de 2:00 p.m. a 6:00 p.m., en Scarpa Las Rosas Funeral Home, ubicado en 22 Craig Place, North Plainfield, NJ 07060.
El servicio fúnebre comenzará el lunes 9 de febrero a las 9:30 a.m. en la funeraria, seguido por un servicio de capilla a las 11:00 a.m. en Rosehill Crematory, en Linden.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
22 Craig Place, North Plainfield, NJ 07060

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