Rebecca Hernandez

Hernandez, Rebecca (Ruiz) of Quincy, died peacefully at home after a long journey with oral cancer on Wednesday, September 22, 2010. Three things that characterized Rebecca Ruiz Hernandez were her Christian faith, her love to family and friends and her desire to help those in need. She was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico to her parents Anibal Ruiz and Aida Cantres Ruiz. She received a B.A. in English and a M.A. in counseling and guidance from the University of Puerto Rico. She worked there as an English teacher and later as a guidance counselor. She moved with her husband and son to Massachusetts in 1979 and worked as a pupil adjustment counselor for the Boston Public Schools. Later she was an educator and counselor at La Alianza Hispana, also as a substance abuse counselor at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and finally as counselor coordinator for the Comprehensive School Age Parenting Program. As a Volunteer she served as a Doula, helping women in the moment of childbirth at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She was also a mentor for Hispanic families, a program of the Cambridge Family and Children’s Services. Her Christian faith was something very important to her and she was a member of the Church of the Nazarene for 44 years. She had a special interest in the comprehensive study of the Bible and dedicated her last two years to that endeavor. She was the loving wife of Rafael Hernandez of Quincy for 38 years. Loving mother of Omar Hernandez and his long time girlfriend Marianne Pongratz. She was the loving sister of Nelly Ruiz of Quincy, Yolanda Ruiz of Hamden, CT, and Anibal Ruiz Jr. of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral Service on Thursday, September 30, 2010 in Wollaston Church of the Nazarene Church, 37 E. Elm Ave. Quincy, at 2 PM.