Obituary of Benigna Segarra

Benigna Segarra 90, lovingly known as "Cutina" went to be with the Lord on Wednesday July 1, 2020. Cutina was born June 3, 1930 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico in a barrio called "Dulces Labios," (Sweet Lips), to her parents Sotero Irizarry and Gregoria Velez. At the age of 38, she came to the United States with her children in the fall of 1968 and lived for a time in New York. However, she also lived many years in Woodbine New Jersey, and eventually moved to Vineland New Jersey, where she made her permanent home. As a child, the concept of family was important to Cutina, and because she believed this, she instilled lots of love in her children and grandchildren. Expressed by her son Luis before he passed, "When times were tough, she would go without to make sure her children ate." She loved all her family and her greatest joy was spending time with them. She liked playing bingo, but beautiful gardens were also something that she loved. This love for gardening was picked up by several of her children. She loved all types of flowers but her favorite flowers were yellow in color. She also loved red roses. And she loved to decorate. Her boys knew this and helped often to move things around her home. Cutina was a cheerful soul. She loved to sing and make jokes. Her son Norberto recalls that when he would call her to go to sleep, she would answer, "Time to go to bed Cheo, and no sleep yet." Her inner strength came from her strong belief in God. She was known to have said that, "The solutions to all of our problems could be found in the bible." And she lived by that thought. In addition to her parents, Cutina was preceded in death by her husband Emiliano, her son Luis, and her grandson Eddie. She will be sadly missed by her children, Eddie Sr., Nancy, Norberto, Emilio, Neftaly, Elvis, her 16 grandchildren, and her many great, great grandchildren. Benigna will be laid to rest at Head of the River Cemetery in Estell Manor, New Jersey. A celebration of her life will be held in her honor in the future once it is safe to do so. Mamita, we love you, and we know that it is not a goodbye but a see you later.