Lucia Rose Loher was born in New York City on Dec. 14, 1931, to Isabel Cresten-Cortijo and Fernando Cortijo, both who preceded her in death. She passed away herself Sept. 22, 2019. However, her legacy of caring lives on.
She is survived by her loving husband Leopold Loher, who said when they first met, “he knew in his heart he loved her, and will love her always.” She is survived by her sister, Isabel Komar, and also by other cousins, nieces and nephews. Her other sister, Stella Cortijo-Kornfeld, preceded her passing in December 2018.
She graduated from Mabel Dean Bacon Vocational High School in 1951, and helped with editing of “The Torch,” the school yearbook. She was noted by her teachers as a talented artist.
Her drawing, which is displayed on the front page of the yearbook, was entitled “The Future of the World is in our Hands.”
She made prolific oil paintings. She worked as a seamstress, and was a long-term member of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union, and was very active as an officer.
She also volunteered at many institutions in the city, which included the Allen Pavilion and the Hospital for Joint Diseases, as well as the RAIN Bailey Senior Center. She also volunteered as one of the board directors at Waldo Gardens.
She was an instructor at the Allen Pavilion, and taught knitting and crochet, making hundreds of baby hats and baby blankets for newborns.
A memorial service was performed at Allen Pavilion for her years of volunteering and service, which was lead by the hospital chaplain, volunteer board, and senior administration and staff members, as well as many others who were touched by her.
Her family will always be grateful for this lovely event.
She was a long-term member of St. John’s Catholic Church in the Bronx.
Funeral services were held at the Williams Funeral Home, 5628 Broadway, on Sept. 30, that was followed by a processional to Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale.
She will be remembered as a beautiful lady who had a wonderful heart, and was a friend to all.