Aurelia "Grace" Mata

Grace Mata was born on October 24, 1979, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to Rosaura Ventura and Leonidas Antonio Mata. She departed this life on April 20, 2026, at Christiana Care Hospital in Newark, Delaware.

Grace attended school in the Bronx, New York, graduated from Wilmington High School, and attended Delaware Technical Community College. Throughout her career, she held various positions, including roles at a local daycare, Nemours Children’s Hospital, and the Delaware Division of Social Services, dedicating many years to public service.

A woman of faith, Grace was a member of St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington and later Faith City Family Church in Newark. Grace had many hobbies that she enjoyed, like traveling, taking walks on a nice day, and trying new things. She also enjoyed watching the news and reality shows but nothing was more important than spending time and making memories with her loving family and friends.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents, Rosaura Ventura and Leonidas Antonio Mata; her grandfather, Rafael Moya; and her grandmother, Aurelia Mata.

She is survived by her loving and caring spouse, Luis Mercado; her three children, Luis Mercado Jr., Auriana Mercado, and Andres Mercado; her siblings, Ingrid A. Mata, Catalina Mata, Emily Smith, Robert Mata, and Leonidas Mata; her parents-in-law, Audaz Mercado, Sr. and Noemi Mercado; her sisters-in-law, Isabel Mercado and Cristine Melendez; her godson, Carlos Ortega; and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends.