Meredith Janet Colón (Padilla) passed away peacefully and gained her angel wings on Friday, November 24, 2023, at the age of 63.

Meredith was born on November 16, 1960, to her mother, Nélida Padilla, and father, Ruben Padilla, and was raised in Perth Amboy, NJ before moving to Puerto Rico to attend and graduate from college, la Universidad del Sagrado Corazón. It was in Puerto Rico that she met and married her husband, Orlando Colón. Soon after, they returned back to have their only child, Veronica Jordan, whom they raised first in Perth Amboy, NJ, and then in their current home in Woodbridge, NJ.

Seemingly fearless at every turn, Meredith was a pillar of strength to every individual lucky enough to have her to lean on.  She was also a chief model of kindness and fairness in all realms of her life.  She was a tireless advocate for her students who she diligently taught for over 30 years, a lively spark of joy and loyal confidant to each and every one of her friends, and the most incredible woman to have the honor to call wife, mother, sister, cousin, and aunt. Meredith exhibited a quiet elegance in the way she navigated life, and she was a protector who lived to make people feel loved, safe, and empowered.  She protected people from unkind words and actions without fear of repercussion, and tried, until the moment of her passing, to protect her loved ones from the fear of living life without her.

Meredith is survived by her loving husband, Orlando, and her devoted daughter, Veronica, who will love and miss her without pause for the rest of their lives - she was the unbreakable strings that lovingly held the pieces of both their individual hearts and small family unit together.  Meredith is also survived by her son-in-law, Jeremy Jordan, her two precious grandchildren, Zachary Landon Jordan and Carolina Noelle Jordan, and her sister, Mildred Padilla Morales, brother-in-law, Rudy Morales, and brother, Rubin (Frankie) Padilla, in addition to several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Forever the grounding force in so many lives, our deepest hope is that Meredith now flies freely in the presence of our Lord God, and we pray that she continues to watch over us and shower us with her unconditional love from heaven.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at Flynn and Son/Koyen Funeral Home, 319 Amboy Ave. Metuchen, NJ 08840, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. A prayer service will be at 3:30 pm, officiated by Father Sean Winters, at the funeral home. The family has requested that family and friends try to arrive by 3:00 pm or 8:00 pm during the viewing windows if they would like to hear a tribute written and delivered by Meredith's daughter, Veronica, for her Mother.

While flowers sent for Meredith are appreciated, her family also encourages contributions to the American Cancer Society in Meredith's name.