Jose D. Diaz

Jose del Carmen Diaz was born on July 15, 1946 to the late Cecilio Diaz de Jesus and Martina Gonzalez in Camuy, Puerto Rico. He was called home to be with the Lord on May 5, 2014. Jose went to high school, but stopped after the 9th grade to go to work. He did odd jobs at a very young age until he was 15. He saved his money to buy a plane ticket to the United States and began living in Texas. Not knowing how to speak English, he was given odd jobs from different people who wanted to help him get ahead. He had only one child from a previous marriage, his daughter, Elizabeth. As time went on, he managed to move to New York City and settled in the Bronx, where he worked as a superintendent of buildings. Jose would come to Delaware to visit his brother, Juan so much that he decided to make it his home in 1976. While in Delaware, he worked for H. L. Ewing as a landscaper until 1984, and then in that same year began working at Whatcoat Village Apartments as a maintenance supervisor for 15 years, where he was known as "Mr. Joe". A stroke caused him to retire from Whatcoat in 1996. His love and adoration for Shirlee Huey grew and they were married in December of 1998. He was well-known for cars and everyone would always come to him to either fix a car or to buy one. Jose also liked to collect antiques, but was most famous for his social gatherings where he would cook food, play his music and have a good time. Jose loved the Lord, confessed of his sins and received his crown in Heaven. Jose is preceded in death by his father, Cecelio Diaz de Jesus; mother, Martina Gonzalez; brothers, Luis Antonio Valentine, Juan Diaz and Manuel Diaz and one sister, Nelida Diaz. He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Shirlee Huey-Diaz; brothers, Hector Diaz, Luis Diaz, Rene Diaz, Eddie Diaz, William Diaz, Edwin Diaz, Augustine Martinez and Felix A. Colon'; sisters, Luz Diaz and Maria Medina-Diaz; daughters, Elizabeth Diaz (Dewey) Hector and Michelle (Fred) Custis; son, Preston Brown; grandchildren, Matthew (Annette) Rivera, Cynthia Rivera, Lydia Brown, Jahzmond Brown, Travis Brown and Dyonne Wright; great-grandchildren, Jarriel Adesanya, Yanelise Rivera, Ayana Angeli Rivera, Tyrique DePaul Owens, Amir Emmanuel McCrae, Dehzmond Brown and Damarian Wright; extended family, Iris Rivera, Evelyn Manzanet, Wanda Manzanet, Betzaida Rivera and Roberto Rivera; special friend, Delis Padilla Rodrugues; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jose D. Diaz, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Jose D. Diaz

July 15, 1946 - May 5, 2014