William Figueras Jr. was born on February 20, 1943, to William and Virginia Figueras in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He is survived by his wife Rafaela, his son William "little Willie" (Elizabeth), his beautiful daughter, Bethzaida (Micah); grandchildren Rebekah, Robert, Zephaniah, Sayrabi, Sabian, Derrick and Ayden; and his great-grandchildren, Garey and Ellen. He was a little brother to Hilda Sanchez and Graciela Howard and a big brother to Jose Figueras.

His early years are marked by the love of his parents and siblings. He was attached to his mother, Virginia, initially shy and later becoming quite rambunctious. Mischievous and quick, he was involved in all kinds of middle school shenanigans, causing his siblings much laughter and some grief.

Later blooming into a serious yet serene young man, he was highly intelligent, astute, adept and more than capable. Observing his father and uncles, all gifted craftsmen, he developed his carpentry skills and so many others to perfection.

It was 1957 in Brooklyn, at a party, where he met the love of his life, Rafaela. They were married on October 12, 1963. First by the Justice of the Peace, then at the family church in the Bronx by Reverend Ruben Dario Colon, pastor of Evangelical Lutheran Church. What a testimony- married for 59 years in a throwaway culture, they learned the art of compassion, mercy and compromise.

Living out true love with all of its challenges and difficulties but committed to the principles of 1 Corinthians 13…The message…

"Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. Love never dies…"

That's not to say that they lived it perfectly because none of us can, but they persevered through good times and hard times… and that is a testament to true love.

He was a veteran who served in the United States Navy as a firefighter on the USS Dewey.

Being multi-talented, he put his skills to use, having worked as a pharmaceutical assistant at Drug Loft in New York, as a Store manager at Rodman's in Maryland, Mr. Good Wrench at a General Motors dealership in VA, Natural Gas delivery driver for Dumfries in VA; Distributor and Caterer for Don Quixote Catering NYC; Carpenter and Foreman for a subcontracting firm in Puerto Rico and VA; Cabinet maker and handyman in VA and FL. Then with his own company Shining Star Cabinets, from which he retired. It was because of his talents and experience that he was much sought after for advice, guidance and direction. He was always willing to help wherever he could until his health began to deteriorate, and even then, he wouldn't hesitate to provide much-needed support.

Passionate about music, he loved playing the conga and timbales. He could dance you under the table with his swift moves. He was strong in character and a man of integrity who was firm and steadfast in his beliefs.

If he gave you a hard time, it's because he believed that you could push harder, dig deeper and rise higher. If he gave you a timeline, it's because he wanted to teach you to respect people and respect time- a limited resource. If he gave you rules, it's because he wanted you to appreciate peace and the realities of the world.

He gave his life to the Lord in 1972 and like many of us, he lived it his way with the messy consequences of making wrong decisions and practicing poor judgment. Yet, in rededicating his life in the mid-1980s, he renewed his greatest joy, his love for his savior and King- Jesus, who made every mess into a message… every trial into a triumph and every weakness into a strength. He learned and lived that the joy of the Lord was his strength. He would tell you, adamantly, "if you have breath then you have choice…if you have choice, choose life…choose life in Jesus and be forever alive!"…and he is, even now, having stepped fully into eternity, he is absolutely alive!!

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