Raquel Villar Pinero

Raquel Villar Pinero March 13, 1932 – April 23, 2025
Raquel Villar Pinero, recently of Middletown and formerly of Brooklyn, NY, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at Montgomery Nursing Home in Montgomery, NY, with her loving daughter by her side. She was 93 years old. Born on March 13, 1932, in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Raquel was the daughter of the late Frances Ferrugi and Peter Ferrugi. On April 5, 1952, she married the love of her life, Atilano Villar Pinero, in Manhattan, NY, and together they shared 61 wonderful years of marriage until his passing.
Raquel was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, and sister. Known affectionately as "Mama," she will be remembered for her gentle demeanor, quiet strength, and the grace with which she met life's challenges. Her creativity was boundless-expressed through her crocheting, sewing, gardening, drawing, cooking, and the soft tunes she would often hum. Raquel also cherished the simple pleasures in life, especially a good novela and a sweet bowl of ice cream. She is predeceased by her beloved husband, Atilano Villar Pinero, and her eldest son, Peter Villar. Raquel is survived by her children: daughter-in-law Patricia Villar of Middletown, NY; son Atilano Villar Jr. and his wife Delilah of Lake Mary, FL; and daughter Bernadette Murphy and her husband Martin of Middletown, NY.
Raquel's legacy continues through her four grandchildren-Patricia and her husband Andrew, Christopher and his wife Ida, Kristina and her husband Jason, and Lauren and her husband Shane-and her eight great-grandchildren: Nicolas, Emma, Kaleb, Raquel, Garner, Ella, Delaney, and Sam. She is also survived by her brothers Ralph and Robert, and was predeceased by her brother Fernando and sister Milly.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc., located at 130 Highland Avenue, Middletown, NY, 10940. A Service will be held at 7:30 pm at the funeral home. Cremation will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in Raquel's memory to one of her most cherished causes: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Raquel will be deeply missed and forever loved.