Luis Armando Mendez, of Palm Bay, Florida passed on May 26, 2024, at the age of 94 with his wife Carmen by side.

A product of the hard life and times during the depression years, Luis Armando Mendez was born in Yauco, Puerto Rico on January 15, 1930. He grew up much on his own on a farm in Puerto Rico with the guidance of his dad until about the age of 15 when he emancipated himself and joined the US Army in 1945. Soon after he was deployed during the Korean war. Some years later he met back up with childhood sweetheart from Puerto Rico, Carmen Acevedo, all the way in NYC. They got married in 1953, which was the start of their life together having 6 children, raising them in Brooklyn, NY. He didn’t make much money after being discharged from the Army as a security officer and later as carpenter, but he always provided food, clothing and shelter for his family as best he knew how.

He was all about Spanish music, enjoying his beers after a week’s hard work, and spending time with family on the weekends. He loved celebrating events with his family and domino games were his favorite pastime. Christmas and New Years were his favorite time of year and most celebrated. He wasn’t the perfect man as he did his share of mistakes in life. He was a stern stubborn man, not much of faith until his later years. But once he realized the error of his ways, he tried his best to turn his life around, being the best he could be for his wife, children, and later, grandchildren. He became faithful to God, although he wasn’t much for church gatherings, but he worked to become a better man, one that would be remembered by his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren as a loving man, a dominos player, a dancer, who enjoyed listening to Spanish music, playing typical instruments from Puerto Rico like the maracas, güiro, cow bell, and bongos.

Once retired and moved from Brooklyn to Florida, he still provided for children as adults but years later he had to move in with his children. This took a lot out of him, as he was a very prideful man, but his family enjoyed having him be a huge part of their lives and his grandchildren’s lives. After experiencing the deaths of two of his children in 2009 and 2020, he became reclusive. But even after he later became ill, he still had a love for his family and wife until his death at 94 years old on May 26, 2024. His favorite sayings to his family were “Dios te bendiga; Vaya con Dios; I Love you more”.

Luis is predeceased by two children, Alida and Louis Armando; and one of his beloved grandchildren. Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 72 years, Carmen Mendez; his children, Anthony, Awilda, Aida Luz, and Rose Marie; 18 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild, and numerous friends and family members.

Fondest memories Luis leaves upon his family are the New Year’s Eve parties growing up in Brooklyn; summertime playing softball with the whole family, working on cars, lots of front porch sitting and him teaching younger generations how to play dominoes, playing the maracas and other instruments, and his telling jokes.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation in his name: https://brevardalz.org/donate/

Arrangements are under the direction of Millennium Cremation Service. Condolences may be shared online at www.millenniumcremationservice.com.