Tribute Wall
Wednesday
18
August
Funeral Mass
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
St. James Church
184 South Finley Avenue
Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States
Wednesday
18
August
Burial
12:00 pm - 12:15 pm
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Holy Cross Cemetery
Mt. Airy Rd.
Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States
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Marthe Terry posted a condolence
Thursday, August 19, 2021
Dearest Maria Heaven has gained a special Saint in my book you went straight up. Your deep and mystical spirit will long be remembered. Please remember us here Below in this Valley of Tears with Jesus Mary and Joseph and all the saints. May the Heavenly Host conduct you home in peace light and joy. You could not wait for your special Heavenly birthday and plannned well for it. I was privileged to sing the Anima Christi in the pew since I had my choir music with me. You told me how much you loved that piece when we sang it on Good Friday and that you cried whenever you heard it. Thank you for interceding for us Below in this Valley of Tears. Amen.
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Tony Novoa lit a candle
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
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Maria G. Aznar-Lujan Eulogy delivered at her final resting place 8/18/2021
I want to thank everyone for gathering today to commemorate and pay respects to Maria G. Aznar-Lujan. My name is Tony and I am Maria’s oldest son.
If you ever met Maria, you quickly realized that she was a very special and unique individual who manifested a level of inner peace and light. Devotion was important throughout her life… to her faith, to her academic studies, to her commitment to being the best mother she could be to her 2 sons, to being a great educator, to her ultimate goal of being the best version of herself.
Despite overcoming many life challenges, Maria always found a way to face and overcome them with poise and grace. This resolve helped to forge her resilience and determination and helped her to continually learn and grow as a human being. When she first married and became a mother for the first time, Maria realized that despite the sacrifice of being away from her family in Mexico, the United States offered much better opportunities for our young and growing family. Maria insisted on preserving our knowledge of our native language and maintaining awareness about our family heritage. Despite the physical distance and the obvious logistical challenges, I remember our yearly summer trips to visit our extended family in Mexico in order to remain connected with our roots and culture. Maria was determined.
Maria was the type of person that as a single mother raising 2 small children, worked as a bilingual paraprofessional teacher in the NYC Public School System while earning her GED and then proceeded to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree, Summa Cum Laude from Brooklyn College. I remember attending her college graduation ceremony, having just graduated from grammar school myself. While that would have been considered to be enough by many standards, she continued to pursue a career in teaching while earning a Masters in Psychology from CUNY Graduate Center. Her desire to further her education was ever present but her responsibility to her children and being a good provider took precedence. Because of this, she made the practical decision to continue teaching rather than to pursue a career in Psychology. Choosing this path ensured that her hours would coincide with our school schedules so that she could maximize her time at home when we were not in school. Maria was extraordinary.
While we didn’t have much growing up, Maria always made sure we had everything we needed and that we appreciated what we had. No matter how difficult things may have been for her, she always wore a brave face and incessantly let us know how much she unconditionally loved us. It was important to her that we never felt we lacked and that we always had what we needed. Maria strove to set a good example by her actions and her strong commitment to her faith. She dedicated her life to instilling strong, positive values in us. She taught us the importance of responsibility, decency and respecting others. She worked hard to lead by example, practicing humility, dedication and emphasizing the importance of pursuing a good education. I vividly remember my mom’s excitement the day she found out that I had been accepted to Regis High School in NYC. She knew the significance this would have on my life and the potential opportunities this could create and more importantly, despite knowing that it would not be easy, she believed in my ability to rise to the challenge. She was right and this event eventually made it possible for me to be the first in my family to earn a degree from an Ivy League University. Maria was a constant source of inspiration.
Despite the adversity in her life, Maria always had a great sense of humor and loved to find laughter in the every day, the mundane, the ironic and the absurd. This helped her to keep a balanced perspective in life and it was part of the special light she couldn’t help to share with everyone she met. Despite not having much, she was a generous person and I believe that this trait made it possible for her to meet Jose Diaz, a man who would be a source of strength, support, companionship during an important time in her life. After knowing each other almost 20 years, they retired and eventually married. You see, when working as a paraprofessional in the NYC Public School System in Brooklyn, NY, Maria would drive to school every day. It was there that she met a very special man whom she befriended. When she learned that he lived on the route to school, she offered to have him join her commute so that he wouldn’t have to take the subway. As they grew to know each other, it became clear that they had a very special connection and they formed a very special bond. I know that this relationship helped my mom tremendously and I am forever thankful that they found each other. It was meant to be and it all germinated from an act of kindness. Maria was selfless.
Family was always important to Maria. While our immediate family was small she considered it a precious gift and worked hard to maintain harmony in the most challenging situations. Maria cherished her grandchildren and loved them deeply. She was always ready to lend a hand without hesitation. Maria cherished her family.
If you knew Maria, you immediately noticed her warm smile and gentle demeanor. But she also knew where she stood on any number of matters and was very committed to her truth, which was guided by her intense faith. Maria tried not to judge, instead seeking to understand other perspectives even if she didn’t always agree. She had strong opinions and she didn’t mind communicating them with the intention of reaching mutual understanding. In the end, we didn’t always agree but she always made it clear that her love came first. Maria was a beacon of light.
Seeing you gather today to remember Maria, our beloved mom, I am deeply moved and reminded of how “It’s a Wonderful Life”, one of my favorite movies applies to her journey. Like George Bailey, Maria had great aspirations in her life as a young woman but she always made the responsible choice because she believed that it was the right thing to do. I know that Maria faced many moments of despair and hardship but rather than succumb to them, she instead turned to her faith and found the strength to overcome and persevere. In the end, it is clear that by any standard, she had a wonderful life. She was spiritually rich beyond measure, put others before herself and rejected the extravagant trappings and temptations of the material world. She devoted her energy in honor of a higher power and to pave a path toward everlasting life beyond the physical world. While she was on this earth, she touched so many of us and we are better for knowing her. Ultimately, she reached the end of her terrestrial path and passed peacefully to the place where she ultimately aspired to be and that she believed truly mattered. It is true that “No man is a failure, who has friends”. Maria had that in spades and she will be dearly missed. I thank you, I love you and I know you are always with me. Rest in peace.
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Marian Janes posted a condolence
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Heaven has truly gained a special angel. Maria is the most prayerful and gracious woman I know. I have learned and gained so much just by being in her presence. I pray she is safely home resting peacefully amongst the angels.
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Miriam Aznar lit a candle
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
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Lupi mi hermana jugó un papel muy importante en mi vida, mucho de lo que hago lo aprendí de ella en todas esas visitas que le hice con nuestro papá.
Siempre la admiré por su inteligencia y disciplina. Aún en momentos difíciles, estaba dispuesta a ayudar, y su enorme fé en Dios,sin duda la ha llevado ya a un sitio mejor que esta Tierra.
La dedicación a sus hijos fue admirable. Tengo infinidad de recuerdos con ella en esa combinación de hermana mayor y amiga con la que compartí muchos momentos de alegría y penas.
Descanse en paz y le mando mi cariño hasta el Cielo.
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Lorena Montemayor posted a condolence
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Para: Lupe Aznar
De: Carolina Blanco
Una verdadera y duradera amistad entre las dos surgió al conocernos en el Instituto Anglo Español en el año 1950; cursábamos 5to. Año de Primaria.
Por la gracia de Dios, supimos conservar, valorar, cultivar y ser constantes en esta relación de amigas.
Muchos veranos nos visitaba Lupe con sus hijos: Tony y Jorge Luis, que venían de Nueva York a México. ¡Tuve la fortuna de estar en la Primera Comunión de sus dos hijos!
La visité, en unión de mi padre Modesto y de mi esposo, Amado en Nueva York y en España.
Mi hija, Lorena, estuvo con ella en un Retiro inolvidable en el Monasterio de La Trapa, en Palencia.
Gocé con sus alegrías y sufrimos juntas nuestras penas.
"LUPE", como la llamé siempre, fue para mí una persona excepcional. Puedo asegurar que fue una "SANTA en vida" !!! llena de cualidades, virtudes, inteligencia, humildad y llena de paz y de fe.
A sus hijos, los felicito por "la gran Madre" que Dios les escogió.
Con todo mi cariño:
Carolina Blanco Zavala.
P.D. Muchas gracias Jorge Luis por haber acompañado a tu mamá, cuando más lo necesitó.
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Kathryn posted a condolence
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Our sincere sympathy for the loss of your loved one. May cherished memories and our loving Heavenly Father's care and compassion bring comfort for the Aznar family at this time. Psalms 71:1a
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NICK VILLANO posted a condolence
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
MARIA MY FRIEND,NEIGHBOR AND MENTOR IN JESUS CHRIST.YOU STARTED ME ON MY WALK WITH JESUS..THROUGH LIFE;S HIGHS AND LOWS ..I WAS ALWAYS COMFORTED WITH YOUR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND WISDOM ..YOU WILL BE MISSED AND LOVED BY ALL LOVE NICK VILLANO
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The family of Maria G Aznar uploaded a photo
Monday, August 16, 2021
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The family of Maria G Aznar uploaded a photo
Monday, August 16, 2021
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Gail Scanlan purchased flowers
Monday, August 16, 2021
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With heartfelt condolences with love from the Kauflin family: Marilyn, Elaine and Harry, Rich and Julie, Lou and Paul and Gail and Brian.
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