Gilberto "Cucho" Mendez, 57, of Hartford, CT passed away on Monday, May 22, 2023 surrounded by his loving family after an agonizing battle with cancer. Cucho, as he was affectionately called by family and friends, was born on Monday, February 28, 1966 to the late Roberto Mendez and the late Natividad Ibarrondo in Mayaguez, PR.  Although Cucho was born in Puerto Rico, he spent the majority of his life as a longtime resident of Hartford, CT. Cucho was a kind and gentle person.  One of his greatest gifts was the ability to tell others just how much they were loved by him.  He not only loved family and friends with great enthusiasm, but animals as well, especially his best friend and pet Chihuahua Benjamin, Benjie for short.  Cucho and Benjie were inseparable, even during Cucho's final days, when Benjie was allowed to visit him in hospice. Cucho enjoyed the great outdoors and was an extremely talented landscaper.  When he wasn't busy meticulously landscaping he enjoyed watching the news on CNN and challenging his mind by doing crossword puzzles.

Cucho will forever be missed by his loving wife Elizabeth Mendez; his four beloved  sons Gilberto Mendez; Jonathan, Wilfredo, and Jose Ortiz, his four brothers Edwin Cruz, Salvador, Luis, and Angel Mendez, his five sisters Carmen Rodriguez, Irma Capo, Elba Plaza, Marisol Martinez, Iris Ramos, and many nieces and nephews all of whom will miss him very much. Cucho was a proud grandfather and leaves behind ten grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Cucho was predeceased by two brothers Ismael and Miguel Mendez.

Funeral service for "Cucho" will be held Friday, May 26, 2023 at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine Church, 10 Campfield Ave., Hartford, CT. Burial will be in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield, CT. Relatives and friends may call at the Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home, Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. To share a memory of "Cucho" please visit www.dillonbaxter.com