Priscilla de la Cruz

Priscilla de la Cruz was born on July 25, 1963, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and died in St. Augustine on Nov. 28, 2017, after a long struggle with cancer. Priscilla was predeceased by her brother, Rudy de la Cruz, in 1999, and is survived by her mother and father, Pedro de la Cruz and Jessie Chacón de la Cruz, of Cathedral City, California, and by her sister, Cindy Pérez-Chica and brothers, Peter and Leo de la Cruz, all of California. She also leaves behind her cousin, Cathy Burresch, of Atlanta, and many nephews and nieces, including her honorary nieces, Mia and Zoe Ahearn, of San Antonio.

The family moved to California when Priscilla was a child, and she joined the Army when she was 18. She kept herself awake on watch by writing out Dickens' David Copperfield with her left hand. She won a tennis scholarship to Flagler College and later worked as a tennis coach. And then one day Priscilla decided she wanted to travel and improve her Spanish, so she put her finger on the map and went to Argentina for a few years. When she returned, being fully fluent, she worked in technical and customer services in the telecommunications industry in the Los Angeles area. Priscilla was an early adopter of any and all technology, and she was the go-to person to provide reviews and training in the latest systems.

Priscilla returned to her beloved St. Augustine in 2010, and worked for local businesses and volunteer organizations, ranging from the Panama Hat Company to Isabela's Bar Cuba to the St. Augustine Art Association and the Tolomato Cemetery Preservation Association. She was a devoted friend to her many friends and kind to all she met. She was generous with her technology knowledge and patiently helped many less techie friends stay connected. Priscilla was also known for sitting on her balcony on Cuna Street and observing and posting on the passing St. Augustine scene, which she always enjoyed. Priscilla was famed for appearing at Tolomato Cemetery in her glossy black top hat. She will be greatly missed at Tolomato because of her joyful spirit and warm welcome to all who entered.

Priscilla de la Cruz ended her journey in St. Augustine and will be buried in California. Arrangements are being handled by Craig Funeral Home of St. Augustine. Memorial contributions may be made to Northeast Florida Community Hospice. A funeral Mass will be offered for her at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Shrine Church at the Mission Nombre de Dios on San Marco Avenue in St. Augustine, to be followed by a reception at Isabela's. Memory eternal O Lord grant unto her.

Craig Funeral Home Crematory Memorial Park (www.craigfuneralhome.com) is in charge of the arrangements.