Ovidio M. Sanchez

March 20, 1939 - February 9, 2022

Last week our father Ovidio M Sanchez passed away peacefully in his sleep. He was a father, husband, grandfather, brother, uncle, and a great grandfather and more importantly a wonderful soul, he was our Pop. He came to New York from Chicago following his family when they left Utuado where he was born and grew up with his brothers and sisters. Although he was born in Puerto Rico and it held a special place in his heart, Patchogue became his home. Patchogue is where he would meet the people who would always remain part of his life. It is here in Patchogue where he planted roots, raised our family, teaching us the important lessons of life. Family, community, compassion, fairness, and humility. Family always came first, immediate, extended, and everyone we called family because we grew up together. Pop made everyone feel like family. Pop believed in community and being a good neighbor always believing in the saying "live and let live". Pop believed in compassion and helping anyone who needed help, just because you could, and it was the right thing to do. Pop believed in being honest, and fair knowing that we should all do what's right not what's easy. Pop would give us advice that at first, we ignored, being young and knowing everything, but now we realize how precious it was. He would say: You work to live, not live to work. You can't buy time back. Once the time is gone it's gone. Give your kids what they need not what they want. It will serve them better in life when things get hard. Live up to your obligations and always say what you mean and do what you say. Be honorable. Defend those who can't defend themselves, always be your own person. It is hard to put Pops whole life into word. If we had to, Pop, Ovidio, Mr. Sanchez was the epitome of unconditional love. He loved his family, he loved his children, he loved his grandchildren, he loved his friends and I know they all loved him back. We all miss him, and we are all better people for having him in our lives. On the day Pop passed, there wasn't a cloud in the sky, and it was unusually warm for February. I remember thinking, God is clearing the way for Pop to meet him and grant him eternal peace for a life well lived. Even though he is not here physically, he will live on in his family, friends and everyone who was lucky enough to know our Pop.