Nilsa (Vazquez-Ruiz) Fernandez

Nilsa Fernandez of Pearl River, NY former resident of Kissimmee Florida, died on November 8, 2022 at Woodcliff Lake Rehabilitation Center in New Jersey. She was 91 years old. Mrs. Fernandez, née Vazquez-Ruiz, was a homemaker, who raised 3 children. Mrs. Nilsa Fernandez, née Vazquez-Ruiz, was born January 23, 1931 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico to Pedro and Rosario Vazquez. On February 23, 1952, she married Victor Manuel Fernandez at Iglesia Unida in Bronx, NY. Nilsa lived in Rockland County for the past year. Before that she lived in Kissimmee, Florida from 1996 to 2021 and in Bronx, NY from 1953 to 1996. Locally, she participated at the Meals on Wheels Senior Care Center in Nanuet and loved making new friends. She also loved bingo and taking day trips with her friends at the Promenade at Chestnut Ridge where she resided the last few months. Nilsa was raised near the sea in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and was the daughter of a fisherman. She shared stories of her youth in Puerto Rico and of adventures such as rowing out to bring her father lunch out on the bay. Herself an avid angler passed that love of the sea to her children and grandchildren. She also shared stories of growing up during the Great Depression in Puerto Rico and how her mother was a seamstress trying to raise the family after her father died at an early age. Nilsa will always be remembered for her love of her children and grandchildren. She raised and guided us to put trust in God, to treat everyone with respect and always to help those less fortunate. She believed in civil rights and standing up against injustice. She will also remembered for authentic Puerto Rican cuisine that all of the family will surely miss. Preceded in death by her brothers, Guillermo and Armando, her daughter, Lillian and daughter in law, Donna. She is survived by her spouse of 70 years, Victor Manuel, her two sons, Victor Fernandez, and  John David Fernandez and his wife, Lisa. Her five grandchildren who she loved so dearly: Nina, Lisa, Rosa Linda, John and Michael. Calling hours are from 2-4pm and 7-9pm Friday November 11, 2022 at Wyman-Fisher Funeral Home Inc. The funeral service is  10 am Saturday, November 12, 2022 at  the funeral home. Interment will follow at Brick Church Cemetery 221 Brick Church Road Spring Valley, NY 1097

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