Nilda Elena Perez

Nilda Elena Perez, 84, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 21, in hospice care at Haywood Regional Hospital in Clyde, North Carolina, following a brief illness. She was born on August 18, 1941, in the small farming town of Los Toros near Vertientes, Cuba.

Nilda grew up in Vertientes and Camagüey, Cuba, until she married the love of her life, Leonides. In 1963, at the age of 21, the newlyweds fled communist Cuba in search of freedom and the American dream, eventually calling Newark, New Jersey home, and becoming proud American citizens. There, in 1965, she gave birth to her only son, John. Later, the family moved to Elizabeth, New Jersey. Nilda worked for many years at Radio Corporation of America, (RCA), while creating a warm and loving home. An extraordinary cook, she was known for her rice and beans and her chicken and rice dishes that family and friends often insisted were “restaurant worthy.”

In 1976, Nilda and her family moved south to West Palm Beach, Florida, where she worked for over a decade with Northern Telecom and CMAC Electronic Solutions Manufacturer. She and Leonides retired in 2006, devoting themselves to what they always called their favorite job—caring for their beloved grandchildren, Jonathan and Christina. Their world revolved around them.

Nilda was deeply devoted to her family and friends. She called everyone “friend” and welcomed all with open arms and an extra seat at the dinner table. She cherished holidays and birthdays, which were always lively celebrations in her home. Music brought her joy—especially the Cuban classics of her youth—and she often filled the house with song and dance on Saturday mornings while she cleaned.

A lifelong animal lover, Nilda always had a cherished dog by her side. Most recently, her beloved Chihuahua, Chili, who lived to the age of 18, passed just months before her.

Above all, Nilda considered her family her greatest accomplishment. She was endlessly proud of her son John, her daughter-in-law Kelley, and her grandchildren Jonathan and Christina. She was overjoyed to welcome her granddaughter-in-law Alyssa into the family in 2021 when Jonathan married. Her home was filled with photographs of her grandchildren, and she never missed an opportunity to boast about them.

In 2022, Nilda followed John and Kelley to the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, specifically Waynesville. She enjoyed the scenery, change of seasons, and the “small town” feel, because it reminded her of the mountains of Cuba.

Nilda was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, all of whom remained in Cuba, and by her beloved husband of 57 years, Leonides, who passed in August 2020.

A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, our family invites you to honor the memory of Nilda Elena Perez by making a donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Georgia Chapter at https://give.cff.org/tribute/Remembering-Nilda a cause that has been close to our hearts for many years.

The care of Mrs. Perez has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville.