STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Staten Island community is mourning the loss of Nilsa Cruz, a woman remembered for her extensive community service and dedication to feeding the hungry, as her son faces the financial burden of her funeral costs alone.
Jose Delgado, Cruz’s son, is seeking to raise $5,900 for his mother’s funeral expenses with little support from others.
On the evening of Dec. 19, she and two other women were crossing Castleton Avenue near Barker Street at around 5:50 p.m., when they were struck by a westbound 2019 gray Ford F-250.
Cruz initially complained of stomach pain and was rushed to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, where she later died from internal injuries, the Advance/SILive.com previously reported.
“I was going to try to talk to the funeral parlor and see if I could do small payments to be honest with you,” Delgado said in an interview with Advance/SILive.com. “I don’t have anybody helping me.”
Nilsa Cruz, 66, is remembered for many roles including her tireless volunteer work with the Faith United Methodist Church in Port Richmond food pantry.(Courtesy of Lorna Wilson)
Cruz was widely known for running the West Brighton Pantry for Project Hospitality and Faith United Methodist Church in Port Richmond since 2017. According to her son, she initially took over the operation after the previous organizer passed away.
“There was a lady that used to do the food pantry in West Brighton but she passed away. My mom just took on the legacy of just running the pantry,” Delgado explained. “When I say running the pantry, running it from out of the basketball court. No sleet, snow or rain, you name it, she was out there.”
Despite Delgado encouraging his mother to step back from the demanding volunteer work, Cruz remained committed to serving others. “I used to be like, ‘Ma, okay, now it’s time. Come on. You gotta give it up.’ And she’s like, ‘No, no, I can’t,’” he recalled.
Her community service extended beyond the food pantry. Cruz was also active with Union 1199 in Manhattan, participating in protests and advocacy work.
“She used to go out and protest for the union,” Delgado said, recalling childhood memories of accompanying his mother to demonstrations.
Volunteers and organizers of the food pantry, including Nilsa Cruz (third from right), took time to pose for a photo with Assemblyman Charles Fall and visitors from Washington D.C. who helped on Aug. 8, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com |Pamela Silvestri)
The timing of Cruz’s death has been particularly difficult for the family, who had just experienced another loss.
“My father, Gumercindo Mercado Cruz, passed away Nov. 22 and then we had his funeral on Dec. 5,” Delgado shared. “So right after he passed away, that’s when my mother passed away.”
For Delgado, the loss of his parents has been devastating both emotionally and financially.
“It has affected my life real bad,” he said. “It’s too much that I’m dealing with.”
Cruz will be remembered as a deeply caring mother who maintained constant contact with her son.
“She could call me 24 hours a day,” Delgado said. “She would call me non-stop and ask me, ‘Are you okay? Are you all right?’”
Her goddaughter, Marissa Thompson, described Cruz as “a loving and careful godmother” who stepped in after her own mother’s death.
“Whatever I asked for, she would always get it. Even though sometimes it was late. But she still got it,” Thompson stated.
Nilsa Cruz ran the West Brighton Pantry in all weather conditions for years, but now her son faces the burden of funeral costs with little support.Courtsey of Jose Delgado
Cruz was also known for her love of cooking, particularly Puerto Rican dishes. Delgado fondly remembered their shopping trips to Brooklyn for special ingredients.
“For us Puerto Ricans, there’s nothing out in Staten Island. We literally travel from Staten Island to Brooklyn just go to the meat market out there,” he recalled.
Delgado’s final message about his mother highlights the essence of who she was: “She’s a respectful person. She’s a person that got along with everyone,” he said, while expressing his need for help with the funeral expenses.
As the Staten Island community mourns Cruz’s passing, they’re reminded of a woman who dedicated herself to service, leaving behind a legacy of compassion and community care that now calls for reciprocal support in her time of need.
Lorna Wilson, the food pantry coordinator at Faith United Methodist Church, described Cruz as the brains behind the current food pantry layout that was inspired by thrift shops.
“Nilsa’s loss has left me very broken,” Wilson shared. “It pushes me to unleash that goodness for caring for others as Nilsa has done; as we both strive to do. We had so many plans.”
Those interested in making a donation and learning more about Cruz can visit her obituary page.