HONINGFORD, Juana A. “Jenny”, age 93, of Huber Heights, passed away, November 3, 2022; Jenny, nee Juana Emilia Diaz Cortes, was born in Loiza, Puerto Rico, to Monseratte Flores Moreno and Arturo Diaz, and raised by her loving stepfather, Juan Cortes Rojas.  The oldest of 10 children, Jenny was a mother figure to anyone in need and helped raise three additional “stepbrothers”, Roberto, Vitin and Hector Gonzalez, deceased.  She overcame immeasurable poverty in Loiza and understood the importance of an education.  She was accepted into the Presbyterian Nursing Hospital in Santurce, Puerto Rico, where she developed relationships that would last her lifetime.  She moved to Dayton in 1953 to work in the VA hospital.  Despite speaking very little English, she earned her RN degree at the University of Dayton along with seven other nurses from Puerto Rico. 

She met the love of her life Tom at UD and they were married in 1958.  While raising their children, she supported him as he attended medical school.  She worked with him at his practice in New Carlisle before taking a Nursing Position at WPAFB Hospital.  Together, they offered free medical treatment to local migrants and developed a lifelong passion for helping others.  They also had a strong affection for travel and took amazing trips throughout their 47 years of marriage.  Their home was always filled with love, laughter and a generosity of spirit, palpable to anyone that visited.  Jenny’s love for all things Puerto Rican was well-known and she adored making traditional Puerto Rican dishes for her guests.  She and Tom, along with a passionate group of other couples would go on to establish the Puerto Rican Cultural Society in Dayton.

Jenny’s religious devotion was deep and she was a lifelong member of St. Peter Catholic Church in Huber Heights. As part of her service to St. Peter, she was a member of the Bereavement Group, offering emotional support to those that lost loved ones.  She instilled a sense of humility and compassion in her children, saying we are defined by how we treat others; a legacy that continues through her children and grandchildren. She continued to spread love through her acts of service to all of the people in her life.

Jenny was preceded in death by her parents and husband; sisters Maria Gabriela (Maru) and Cecilia (Cecy); brothers Javier, Efrain, Roberto Luis (Guicho) and Juan Bautista.  She is survived by her sisters, Cruz Cortes Flores and Marta Cortes Flores and brother Miguel Cortes (Guelo); Brother-in-law Bill Honingford, Sister-in-law Linda Honingford; and her adoring children, Eva (Mitch) Woolhiser, Tony (Patrice) Honingford, John (Carol) Honingford, Kathy (Allen) Franke and Steve (Anita) Honingford and her loving grandchildren, Sarah Orahood, Josh (Ginger) Orahood, Jacob Franke, Nick (Marielhi) Honingford, Alex Honingford, Adam Honingford, Zoe Honingford, Maria Lena Honingford, Isabella Honingford, Emilia Honingford and Joseph Honingford; and great-granddaughter, Rowan Orahood.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 AM Saturday, December 3, 2022, at St. Peter Catholic Church, 6161 Chambersburg Road with Father Andrew Smith celebrant. Inurnment at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery. Followed by a time of remembrance at St. Peter Catholic Church Fehrenbach Hall.  In lieu of flowers, we ask that you donate to https://foundationforpuertorico.org/  for Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief.  Funeral arrangements Marker & Heller Funeral Home, Huber Heights Chapel.