Obituary: Maria Isabel Ponce, 52, of Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT - (From Wallingford Funeral Home) Maria Isabel Ponce, 52, of Wallingford, loving wife of 32 years of Gerardo Ponce, passed away unexpectedly January 13, 2021 at her home.

She was born in Lagunillas, Mexico on June 28, 1968, a daughter Anna (Zavala) Hernandez of Lagunillas and the late Salvador Hernandez.

Maria Isabel Ponce is a loving mom, an amazing wife and a beautiful gift of god. Maria worked countless jobs no matter the hours to ensure that her children, husband, and family were always taken care of.

Even after we grew up. Maria made sure her nieces and nephews were taken care of with clothing for school, backpack, and toys.

Every day before Maria would leave for work. She would make sure that there was not just food on the table but in our bellies and was always supporting her loving mom in Mexico.

Maria loved her family and she was always making sure her family was together. Talking to us, calling us when we were not there and being the loving mom that she was.

To Maria her garden was also her life as well. Every summer, the house was lined in flowers.

Lillys, Roses, Dahlias, Tulips and Daisys. She meant the world to us and we will never forget her.

Our Mother kept a garden,
A garden of the heart,
She planted all the good things
That gave my life it’s start

She turned me to the sunshine
And encouraged me to dream,
Fostering and nurturing
The seeds of self-esteem

Her constant good example
Always taught me right from wrong-
Markers for my pathway
That will last a lifetime long.

I am my Mother’s garden.
I am her legacy-
And I hope today she feels the love
Reflected back from me.

In addition to her husband, Gerardo, Maria is survived by her children Leida Ponce, Gerardo Ponce and Jason Ponce, all of Wallingford; her sisters, Maria Guadalupe Cerna, Maria Luz Alvarada and Carmen Reyez; her brothers, Francisco, Leolpoldo, Salvador, Federico and Sergio Hernandez; and many nieces and nephews.

Maria’s family will receive relatives and friends at The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main Street Ext., Wallingford on Monday, January 18, 2021 from 9:00 am until 10:00 am when the funeral cortege will proceed to Most Holy Trinity Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am.

Interment will be in her hometown in Mexico. You can view her funeral Mass via livestream by visiting her webpage on Monday at www.wallingfordfh.com.