Saturday, June 2, 2018
Francisco Manuel Cales was the oldest of seven, born to Francisco and Manuela Cales on May 15th, 1939 in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico. He is survived by his wife, two children, their spouses and 5 grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings Cindy, Vincent, Lillian and Frances. He loved his two sisters Enid and Abigail that were taken home to their Savior before he was.
Francisco migrated with his parents to New York in 1945 and lived in a cold-water flat in Boreum Hill, Brooklyn. He was diagnosed with rheumatic fever at 13 years old. As tragic as this sounds, this was the beginning of his father's relationship with the Lord. He begged God to save his son, and would serve him until his death in 1970.
He met his wife in 1960 at Bethesda Christian Church, a beautiful Honduran lady named Olga Lydia. They were married six months later.
He did everything with excellence. He was church treasurer at Bethesda Christian Church for 40 years. He taught Sunday School here as well. Outside of ministry, he worked for the Department of Social Services as a Claims Analyst Manager. This was his only job, and retired from the agency after starting when he was 21 years old.
His love also included the Mets, hanging out with his neighbors Jose, Eldia and their family, and travel. He traveled all over the world to the Middle East, Europe and South America. Along with all the travel, he enjoyed being in Brooklyn with all his neighbors and being crowned "The Mayor of Mckibben Court."
Most importantly, he loved his family. His oldest daughter Evelyn, born in 1962 married Juan Rivera and they have three children: Erica, Jacob and Amanda. His son David, born in 1965 married Daphne Delgado and they have two children: David Jonathan and Daniel James. The love for his grandchildren can be seen displayed in his apartment with pictures of Erica's marriage to Will Brooks, and Jacob's marriage to Clary Rivera.
His extended family brought him great joy at countless Halsey Street Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings. He loved to be around others and make them laugh.
Through all of his illness, he never complained. In a conversation with a clergyman at the hospital, he shared that he survived all the hardship in his life (this included losing his parents and siblings, one on September 11th), because he trusted in the Lord. His legacy of serving a wonderful Savior will continue to live on in his loving family.
