Ana Dolores Mendoza

Ana Dolores (Riley) Mendoza, of Waltham, died Saturday, October 21, 2023 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.  She was 80.

Ana was born in Teculutan Zacapa, Guatemala on September 21, 1943, a daughter of the late Jose Guillermo Riley Chacon and Olga B. Solorzano Marroquin, and immigrated to the United States in 1967. 

She lived in Waltham for 16 years then moved to Brockton in 1984 and resided there with her husband and 3 children for 18 years until she retired in 2003. Retirement allowed her the opportunity to return and enjoy some time back in Guatemala. She returned in 2017 and again settled in Waltham. 

Ana was raised in Antigua, Guatemala where she attended Santa Familia, a Catholic boarding school for girls, where early on she earned a reputation for honesty, spunkiness and energy.  She was talented musically and in basketball and was always counted on to sing the national anthem at sporting events in Guatemala.

Following her move to the U.S. she married Orlando Mendoza, in Wrentham, Massachusetts and the couple soon made Waltham their home.

Until her retirement Ana worked for thirty-four years at McLean Hospital in Belmont in various departments including human resources and payroll departments.

She had unique interests that included being a passionate fan of international soccer as well as watching the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox.  She loved to play bingo and watch game shows and in between enjoyed a good book . . . especially by authors John Grisham and Danielle Steele.

Ana’s life centered around her family.  She never missed her children’s events in school, on stage, in the gym and on the field.  She enjoyed arts and crafts and was accomplished in needlepoint and crocheting.  She had also been a longtime parishioner of Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church in Waltham.

She leaves her husband, Orlando Mendoza; her children, Eric Mendoza of Waltham, Danette Mucaria (Chris) of Marlborough and Edwin Mendoza of Norwell; her grandson, Gabriel Mucaria; her sister-in-law, Gloria Riley and many nieces, nephews and their families.

Ana was also the sister of the late Cesar, Mario and Fernando Riley.

Family and friends will honor and remember Ana’s life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Thursday, October 26^th from 5 to 8 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023 or at https://diabetes.org/