Raquel V. Torres - Andrade

February 6, 1948 - December 8, 2021

Raquel Victoria Torres Andrade, 73, passed away peacefully after a brief illness in New Haven, Connecticut on December 8, 2021. Raquel was born on February 6, 1948, in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, in the Galapagos Islands to Elena Georgina Andrade and Federico Humberto Torres. She was one of three children in the Andrade family with a loving bond to her sister Silvia Andrade (deceased) and her brother, Colon Eloy Bolanos Andrades. Raquel spent a lot of her childhood in the water and swimming with the baby sharks while in the Galapagos Islands. Being on the beach, with sand in her toes, surrounded by the warm ocean water was where she was happiest. Raquel lived in Ecuador during her young life and then had a daughter, Liliana before she moved to Yonkers, New York with her mom in the ’70s and made a home for herself there where she had a son, Glenn in 1980 after settling in the Northeast. Raquel was a smart businesswoman and soon became known as a bright entrepreneur and caring community member in Westchester County, NY. She was someone who could quickly turn around failing businesses to become profitable under her leadership. As a real estate investor, she would buy and sell businesses in Yonkers that would help to build up the local neighborhoods. Raquel was incredibly kind, loving and generous, and loved to laugh. More than anything, she loved her family and continued to connect with her son, daughter, grandchildren, extended nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, and brother. Raquel’s grandchildren, from daughter Liliana; Natalia (and husband Darwin), and son Jordan, loved their grandmother dearly. Raquel was predeceased by her sister, Silvia Andrade. Raquel was close with Silvia's family including her daughters Teresa, Juanita, Elena, and Charito and sons Pedro, Pepe, Manolo, and Carlos. She was also close to her brother, Colon Eloy Bolanos Andrades, and his wife, Rosario Maria Bolanos. Additionally, Colon and Maria’s children, Mario, Michael, and Diana were very close to their Aunt Raquel. Raquel was Christian and continued to hold on to her faith throughout her life. The funeral service will begin immediately after, at 12:00 pm, and will be available on Livestream for those who cannot attend to watch on the McClam Funeral Home, 95 Dixwell Ave. New Haven,CT facebook: MFH livestreaming. Flowers can be sent to the funeral home or in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: The Island Conservation Galapagos Island Relief Fund, protecting the Galapagos Islands. For more information: please click here: https://www.islandconservation.org/galapagos-island-relief-fund