Nelida Reyes' Obituary
Nelida “Nellie” Reyes, 93, of Tampa, Florida, entered into Eternal Life on February 17, 2021. She was born in Key West, Florida to Horatio Luis and Eustacia Chavez Sanchez as one of twelve siblings. The family relocated to Tampa early in Nellie’s childhood. It was there along the shores of Rocky Point that she met her life partner and husband, Raul Aurelio Reyes, Sr. The two were married on June 30, 1948. Throughout the years, the two were inseparable, always guided by their fierce love of family. Her love for Raul was tried and true, evident in all that she did, always wanting to be at his side, no matter where the journey would take them. When he took up motorcycling, there Nellie was on the back of the motorcycle with her helmet on riding off to Bike Week. They had three children together—Vilma, Linda, and Raul Jr.—who were her everything. She was a proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, always proudly sharing the accomplishments of her family. She worked as a seamstress for many years, though she also enjoyed homemaking. She loved having her siblings, nieces and nephews over for lunches, which often were filled with spirited conversation, lively debate, card games and Bingo. She was preceded in death by her parents Horatio Luis Sanchez, Sr. and Eustacia Chavez Sanchez, siblings Horatio Luis Sanchez, Jr., Estella Fabian, Gilberto Sanchez, Rafaela Gonzalez, Dolores Bazo, Graciela Alonzo, Nilo Sanchez, and two that died in infancy, and her daughter Vilma Reyes Wall. She is survived by her loving husband of 72 years, Raul Reyes, Sr., daughter Linda Reyes (Frank White), son Raul Reyes, Jr. (Yvette), grandchildren Chris Maria Reyes, Kimberly Schaefer (Jeffrey), Jason Navarro (Wendy), Ryan Menendez, Sr. (Diana), Christopher Reyes (Kristen) and Danielle Reyes, great-grandchildren Michael Ferrer Jr., Jackson Navarro, Ryan Menendez, Jr., and Adrian Menendez, sisters Georgina Cates and Elina Rodriguez, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins too numerous to list. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Tampa, Florida on February 25, 2021 at 9:30am, with interment following at Sunset Memory Gardens. Fr. Kyle Smith will be the presider. Pallbearers include Raul Reyes, Jr., Jason Navarro, Ryan Menendez, Christopher Reyes, Michael Ferrer, Jeffrey Shaeffer, Virgil Fabian, and John Diaz. Honorary pallbearers include Leonard Alonzo and Donell Rice. The family will accept flowers and requests donations be made to the American Heart Association.
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