Obituary of Angel Hernández-Crespo Sr.

Angel Hernández-Crespo Sr., 96, lived a full life and went to be with the Lord on July 17, 2020, in Tampa, Florida, surrounded by family. Angel was born on March 4th, 1924, in Arecibo, Puerto Rico to Juan Crespo-Maldonado and Herminia Hernández-Bravo. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Santa Yrene Crespo; fifteen children, eight sons - Angel Jr., Sidney (Hattie), John C. (Vickie), Joseph Jose (Sandra), Juanito, Daniel (Pauline), Abraham (Terria), and David; seven daughters - Martina Cisco (Jose), Hilda Crespo, Norma Crespo, Marie Johnson, Josephine Baxter (Robert Sr.), Margot Townsend (Telester), and Rosita Andino (Kevin); 36 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by two sons Julio and Antonio; granddaughter Annette; sisters Hilda and Francisca “Pancha” Lopez-Barroso, Felicita Nieves, and Irma Lopez, and “brother” Pedro Crespo. Angel was born and raised in Barrio Abra San Francisco, Arecibo, Puerto Rico, where he met Santa Yrene Velez. They were wed on April 5, 1947. Angel settled in Clarksburg, New Jersey, and was employed as a migrant worker for PJR Farms in the late 1940s, and later was joined by his wife and his first two children, Martina and Hilda. He was later employed by Frudden Farms which enabled him to purchase his first home where he and Santa raised 17 children. His wife Santa and family still reside there to this day. Angel held multiple jobs and later retired from Flori Roberts Cosmetics. Angel graduated from Brookdale Community College (Lincroft, New Jersey) with an Associate of Arts degree at the age of 61. He stressed and modeled the importance of education, learning English, strong family values, and community empowerment. His life’s passion was working and volunteering in the community, focusing on Senior advocacy and assisting migrant workers with integration into society. While at CheckMate he worked in a community winterization program and also volunteered at Monmouth County Action Program. He was recognized by his community for his charitable work. He enjoyed visiting his family in Puerto Rico and introducing his children to the customs and culture of the Island. He was an avid reader and enjoyed the Asbury Park Press daily. He also enjoyed making jokes and had quite a sense of humor. He enjoyed playing dominoes, farming, raising animals, going to flea markets, practicing the guitar, watching westerns, having pig roasts, and hosting family gatherings “parandas”. Angel was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Allentown, NJ. He raised his children to be believers in Jesus Christ, and encouraged them to live by the Word. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends and will forever be in our hearts. In lieu of flowers, we request that donations be made to Gideon's International for bibles to be distributed in the memory of Angel Hernández Crespo Sr.: The Gideon's International, Tampa North West Camp, P.O. Box 427, Tampa, FL 33601- 0427. Services will be held at 7 pm Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, 3350 Mall Hill Dr., Lakeland, Florida. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7pm prior to funeral service. Visiting will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. The Interment following the Freehold private service will be held at Old Tennent Cemetery, 454 Tennent Road, Manalapan Township, New Jersey 07726.