Lorenzo Verdejo Obituary

It is with broken hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Lorenzo Verdejo, a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend. He passed away on September 10, 2026, at the age of 91.

Lorenzo was born on May 24, 1935, in Santurce, Puerto Rico, to Benigno Verdejo and Emerita Melendez. His father was from Santurce, and his mother was from Corozal. He was proud of his Puerto Rican roots, and the spirit of Puerto Rico never left him. It could be felt in the salsa music he loved, in the joy he found around a domino table, and in the warmth and liveliness he brought wherever he went.

On February 23, 1957, Lorenzo married Nellie Gerena at Holy Agony Church. They were so young. Lorenzo was 21 and Nellie was 16, and they grew up together while building a life, a home, and a family of their own.

They remained by each other's side for more than 69 years.

Sixty-nine years is more than a number. It is a lifetime of mornings and evenings, struggles and celebrations, sacrifices, private jokes, forgiveness, family milestones, and memories that belonged only to the two of them. Lorenzo loved Nellie deeply and often said that he could not live without her. She was his partner, his home, and the person with whom he shared nearly his entire life.

Nellie was, is, and will eternally remain the love of his life.

Together, Lorenzo and Nellie raised nine children: Larry, who preceded his father in death, Anastasia, Nellie Jr., Myra, Martha, Chris, Rose, Cathleen, and Emerita.

Lorenzo was the proud grandfather of 15 grandchildren: Izzudin Lorenzo Verdejo, Esther Marie Caraballo, Francisco Medina, Brittany Alexia Rodriguez, Tyler Rodriguez, Ryan Rodriguez, Rebekah Verdejo, Kayleen Verdejo, Ixcia Jolie Verdejo, Christopher Elijah Verdejo, Brandon Elijah Perez, Jon Pierre Perez, Breana Perez, Angelina Louise Juarbe, and Justin Daniel Velez.

He was also the loving great-grandfather of Isabella Medina and Jayden Verdejo.

Lorenzo loved life, and he made life more enjoyable for the people around him. He had a beautiful smile that will never be forgotten and an infectious laugh that made everyone around him laugh too. Once Lorenzo started laughing, it was almost impossible not to laugh along with him.

He was a true jokester. Whether through something he said, a look he gave, or simply the way he told a story, he knew how to bring laughter into a room. He was fun to be around, and people naturally wanted to be near him.

He loved salsa. He loved dominoes. He loved being surrounded by people, sharing stories, laughing, and enjoying the moment. Those ordinary moments became special because he was part of them.

Lorenzo also loved looking sharp. He took pride in his appearance and enjoyed wearing his fancy shoes, jewelry, and jackets. He had style, and he knew it. Even as he grew older, he still wanted his good shoes and something nice to wear. That was Lorenzo: proud, handsome, and always ready to make an impression.

He was an old-school man. He believed in paying his own way, taking care of his responsibilities, and not leaving his obligations for someone else. He was generous and giving, not because he wanted recognition, but because caring for the people he loved came naturally to him.

Lorenzo also had the spirit of a warrior. He did not back down when life placed a challenge before him. He met difficult moments with determination, courage, and a strength that carried him throughout his 91 years. When circumstances became hard, Lorenzo kept going. That fighting spirit was a defining part of who he was, and it is part of the strength he leaves behind in his family.

His generosity was not only found in what he paid for or provided. It was in his smile, his humor, his friendship, and the way he gave people a good time simply by being there. Lorenzo loved generously, and he was loved just as generously in return.

Above all, Lorenzo loved the Lord. His faith was part of the foundation of his life and a source of strength through its many seasons. We find comfort in believing that he is now resting peacefully in God's loving care.

Our hearts ache because his presence was so large and his absence is deeply felt. We will miss his smile. We will miss his jokes and the sound of his infectious laughter. We will miss seeing him dressed in his favorite shoes, jewelry, and jacket. We will miss him at the domino table and think of him whenever salsa music begins to play.

Most of all, we will miss the man himself: the husband who loved his wife for a lifetime, the father who helped build a family, and the grandfather and great-grandfather whose life continues through the generations that came after him.

Lorenzo's earthly journey is complete, but his love is not. It lives on in Nellie, his eternal love. It lives on in his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It lives in every story we tell, every memory that makes us laugh through our tears, and every part of us shaped by having known and loved him.

He gave us 91 years of life, more than 69 years of marriage, a family that will carry his name and his memory forward, and a love that death cannot take away.

Lorenzo loved the Lord. He loved life. He loved his family. And he loved his Nellie completely, faithfully, and eternally.

He was deeply loved in this life, and he will remain deeply loved forever.

May he rest peacefully in the arms of the Lord.