Luz Miriam Contreras

Luz Miriam Contreras

April 5, 1956 – March 23, 2025

Luz Miriam Contreras, known affectionately as “La Negra,” age 68, passed away on March 23, 2025, in a New York City hospital.

Born in Cali, Colombia in 1956, she moved to the United States as a child with her family, seeking a better life—a journey that shaped her into the resilient woman she was. A resident of Norwalk, Connecticut for nearly 30 years, Luz was a treasured mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend. Her name, meaning “light” in Spanish, reflected the radiance she truly was in her loved ones’ lives.

Luz was a woman of deep conviction and unshakeable faith in God. A true “guerrera”—a warrior—she faced life’s many tribulations with grace and positivity, her spirit as fierce and noble as the lions she loved. She found joy in watching her novelas, discussing the meaning of her dreams with her family, and sharing laughs with her jokes. Ever thoughtful, she sent heartfelt TikTok videos to her loved ones and, in her final months, learned to use generative AI. Luz adored dancing, choosing gifts for her grandchildren, and worrying over her kids and grandkids—her selfless heart a constant shield.

She is survived by her children, grandchildren, siblings, and a wide circle of nieces and nephews who will forever feel her light.

A funeral service will be held on April 5, 2025—her birthday—from 1 to 5 p.m. at Raymond Funeral Home 5 East Wall Street in Historic Norwalk, Connecticut. This spring day, falling within the sacred season of Lent.

Luz Miriam Contreras—“La Negra,” a lion-hearted guerrera—leaves a legacy of love, courage, and light that will roar on in all who knew her. If she could speak to us one last time, she’d surely smile and say, “God bless you,” her parting wish for peace and strength to carry us forward.