Iris Minerva Mendez of Revere died on September 22, at 63, after three months of complications from advanced cancer. Her mother, Raquel Mendez, 83, of Dorchester, had died the day before. The family held visiting hours for both women together on September 28 and a joint funeral service on September 29 at the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza Beechwood Home for Funerals in Revere, followed by burial at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Boston.
Iris was born June 21, 1963, in Arroyo, Puerto Rico, to Juan Mendez and Raquel Fontanez. Her family remembered her free spirit, her endurance and her devotion to them. She leaves her husband, Hector Nieves, four children, 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Raquel Mendez was born April 28, 1943, also in Arroyo, Puerto Rico. Her family remembered her as feisty and strong.
Compiled from information published by Vertuccio Smith & Vazza Beechwood Home for Funerals, 262 Beach Street, Revere. Photograph courtesy of the family via Vertuccio Smith & Vazza. This is our own summary, not the family’s obituary; read the full obituary and leave a condolence at the funeral home’s website. Corrections: we will fix any error promptly.