Alida Colòn-Fontanez, loved by a host of family & friends, departed this life on February 27, 2026. Visitation will be 2:00pm-3:00pm Sunday, March 08, 2026 at Lucas Memorial Chapel 9010 Garfield Blvd. Garfield Hts., OH. and The Celebration of Life Service will be held at 3:00pm on Sunday, March 08, 2026 at the same location. Live streaming will be available at www.lucasfuneralhome.com. Arrangements entrusted to Lucas Memorial Chapel. 

Alida’s story begins on a beautiful September day in Spanish Harlem, New York City.  September 16, 1958 the world was blessed with a witty, funny, smart, spunky, street savvy NYC beauty!  She was the youngest daughter of José Colón Santana and Ana Hernández Colón.  Alida was the youngest sibling to Josephine, Carmen, Otilia (Tillie) and Evelyn.  She attended schools PS 102, JHS 117 and Julia Richman HS.  She graduated high school in 1976 with a concentration of the medical field.  Being the daredevil that she was, she rented her first apartment right after high school with her best friend Sally Ramos in Queens, NY.  Soon after, Alida began working at Rockefeller University in Manhattan.  She would recount what research studies they were working on and how they impacted the general society. She found her work interesting and was saddened when the University came upon the sudden deaths of young gay males during the 1980’s. Little did she know she was at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. Many of the patients she had grown to love would soon pass away.  Alida had a heart of gold for those less fortunate. She brightened the lives of many with her big smile and comforting and encouraging words. She extended a helping hand to those that were in need.  Alida also loved the holiday parties at the University, and it was there she met David Fontanez.  She loved his dancing style and later married him. That union brought about three children: Aliana, DJ, and Ryan.  Early 1991 she moved to Cleveland, Ohio in search of a quieter upbringing for her family.  It was a difficult adjustment from her life as she had known it in NYC but being the survivor that she was she made the best of it.  She had her parents there as well as her sisters Carmen and Tillie, many nieces and nephews, and her beloved dog Lola. Alida was dedicated to her family and often held her Thanksgiving Dinners in her home just so everyone could be together. She loved all her nieces, Sally, Stacy, Marie, Lisette, Selina and Taína.  As well as her nephews, Stephen, Wil and Dariel. Alida was the “fun” aunt who entertained them with her dancing style and funny stories about her youth. She was loud and center stage. She worked as a cross guard but found the winters too harsh to stand outside with a STOP sign and stopped. Even with serious medical conditions Alida stayed busy and decided to help a family friend by working at Water Waste Management. She loved the small company feel and the people who worked there. She traveled early on back to her hometown of NYC and enjoyed the family, friends and restaurants she left behind.  She loved vacationing with her sisters in Puerto Rico -  it was one of her most memorable trips. Alida was the life of the party who loved her culture, music, food.  Ultimately her grandchildren, Wayne Jr and Isabella, became the center of her life.  She is survived by her husband David, daughter Aliana (and son-in-law Wayne), son DJ (and Shaniqua), and son Ryan (and Kim). Alida was the star of any room she was in, and her bright light will never fade.