Maria Rueda, 102, passed away peacefully at her home in Clifton Park, New York on Sunday, December 21, 2025, with her family at her side.

Maria was born in 1923 in Nandaime, Nicaragua, a daughter of the late Juan Rueda Vado and Delia Rueda Arguello. She was predeceased by her parents and stepmother, Amalia Rueda Arguello and her siblings, Isabel Hernandez Rueda, Ena Tablada Rueda, and Juan Jose Rueda Rueda.

As a teenager, Maria developed a strong interest in fashion and demonstrated a unique talent for sewing. She became a fashion designer and owned a custom clothing business at a young age. Decades later, she opened her own clothing store, Boutique 2000, in Managua, Nicaragua, a continuation of her entrepreneurial spirit.

In 1948, Maria married Luis Mejia Gonzalez, an attorney who later became a diplomat in Washington, D.C., an economist, and the Vice-Minister of Economy for the government of Nicaragua.

In the first twelve years of her marriage, Maria lived as a Nicaraguan Diplomat in Washington, D.C. where she served as an official cultural ambassador, supporting the diplomatic mission, building social connections, meeting world leaders and notable figures, and proudly representing her country.

Maria faced many hardships later in life. In 1972, she experienced the most devastating earthquake in Nicaraguan history. Following the outbreak of civil war, in 1979 she left her homeland and settled in the United States, where she became an American citizen.

Maria was deeply committed to her faith and was a member of Holy Innocents Catholic Church in Victorville, California, and more recently of St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Clifton Park, New York.

Maria was passionate about wellness, embracing a healthy, active lifestyle and empowering family and friends with a wealth of knowledge and wisdom. Above all, her greatest priority was her family, guiding and loving her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren throughout her life. Family was her entire world.

Maria is survived by her children: Barney Mejia Rueda, Luis Byron Mejia Rueda, Cynthia Isabel Flax, and Marla Maria Walls; her grandchildren: Barney Camilo Mejia, Alejandro Mejia, Eduardo Mejia, Maria Yvel Arambula, Karen Jones, Carolina Jalufka, Jamie Maria Flax-Leight, Lindsay Anne Flax, Adrianna Michelle Flax, William Oppenheimer III, and Steven Oppenheimer: her great-grandchildren: Paloma Isabel Mejia, Valentina Mejia, Giselle Mejia, Camila Mejia, Lucia Arambula, Alexander Arambula, Leo Arambula, Cecilia Jalufka, Preston Jalufka, Fiona Isabel Flax, William Robert Oppenheimer, Alyssa Samantha Oppenheimer, Isabella Anastacia Oppenheimer, Olivia Susan Jones, and Ava Carolina Jones; and a brother: Enrique Rueda Arguello, as well as several nieces, and nephews.

A visitation will be held from 10:00am to 11:00am on Monday, December 29, 2025 at St. Edward the Confessor, 569 Clifton Park Center Rd, Clifton Park, NY 12065, immediately followed by mass at 11:00am. She will be entombed in the Mary Immaculate Mausoleum at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery, 2501 Troy Schenectady Rd, Schenectady, NY 12309, following the mass.

If you wish to make a donation in memory of Maria, please consider giving to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital online at stjude.org, or to Project CASK at projectcask.org.