Jose Reynaldo Perez Baez

Surrounded by his sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews and loved ones, Jose Reynaldo Baez Perez entered eternal rest on Friday, January 12, 2024, at 12:47 p.m. CT in Houston, TX after succumbing to complications of a heart attack. Jose had just celebrated his 66th birthday on January 6, 2024, the day of the Epiphany or Día de los Reyes Magos.

Jose, affectionately known as Nene, also briefly went by the name, Joe, after first immigrating to Southeast Houston from Nuevo Progreso, Tamaulipas. He was the first-born son in a family of six siblings, three boys and three girls. Jose was the light of his late mother’s life, Margarita Baez Perez. It was his mother who gave him his affectionate nickname, Nene, which means baby or babe in Spanish.

Nene lived a full life. He knew love and was favored by God. He was raised in the Catholic tradition.

Jose was cared for by his sister and lifelong caregiver, Gloria Perez Paz, and loving family who celebrated his triumphs and shared in life’s challenges with him. Gloria took great pride in her care of Jose and did so tirelessly and with an immense amount of love for 45 years. The joy that Jose brought to her life is immeasurable, as are the lessons he taught her and his entire family about the importance of compassion and family.

Jose loved music, especially cumbias and norteñas from artists like Fito Olivares, Los Cadetes de Linares and Renacimiento 74. In recent years, you could find Jose listening to hours worth of his favorite music while basking in the sun on his front porch. Jose had a great memory. Often at family gatherings, his siblings would tell stories about their childhood and would quiz Jose on names, events, places, and to their amazement, he would not only get the question right, but he would remember other long-forgotten details. Jose was particular and neat. He knew what he liked and what he didn’t. He liked to dress up and to dance. He loved hats. He played the guiro and drums. He never left home without smelling of cologne. He was stubborn and loving. He was funny, he had a great laugh, and his hand gestures were the best.

Jose was respected in his family and lived a life with dignity.

Throughout his life, Jose, who lived with a severe developmental disability, participated in many drop-in and workshop programs for those living with an intellectual and developmental disability in Houston and Harris County. Jose made many friends and even some girlfriends because of these programs. While away from home, Nene practiced his English, learned to be independent, worked on projects, and at one program he earned a small paycheck, which he happily cashed every Friday to spend on a coke and chips.

Jose made friends with his doctors, nurses, taxi drivers, and program staff. He made friends while at the grocery store, at church, or just out and about, because he was a charming and polite person. Jose’s memory will live on in each of them.

Jose was preceded in death by his mother and father: Margarita Baez Perez and Luis Perez Perez. Jose is survived by his legal guardian and caregiver Gloria Perez Paz and Carlos Paz, Sr.; his siblings and their spouses, Irma and Leo Sordia, Nancy and Beto Ruiz, Luis and Adelita Perez, Raul and Angelica Perez; and his nieces and nephews.

Jose’s family and loved ones would like to thank all those who cared for him during his life including his doctors, nurses, therapists, and program staff including Dr. Sarwar, Dr. Ali, Dr. Mukardamwala, a Special Kind of TLC and Fresenius Kidney Care.

Rodeado de sus hermanas, hermanos, sobrinas, sobrinos y seres queridos, José Reynaldo Báez Pérez entró en el descanso eterno el viernes 12 de enero de 2024, a las 12:47 p.m. CT en Houston, TX después de complicaciones de un ataque cardíaco. José acababa de celebrar su cumpleaños número 66 el 6 de enero de 2024, el Día de los Reyes Magos.

José, conocido cariñosamente como Nene, también usó brevemente el nombre de Joe, después de inmigrar por primera vez al sureste de Houston desde Nuevo Progreso, Tamaulipas. Era el primogénito de una familia de seis hermanos, tres niños y tres niñas. José fue la luz de la vida de su difunta madre, Margarita Báez Pérez. Fue su madre quien le puso su cariñoso apodo, Nene.

Nene vivió una vida plena. Conoció el amor y fue favorecido por Dios. Fue criado en la tradición católica.

José fue cuidado por su hermana y cuidadora de toda la vida, Gloria Pérez Paz, y por una familia amorosa que celebró sus triunfos y compartió los desafíos de la vida con él. Gloria se enorgulleció mucho de cuidar a José y lo hizo incansablemente y con un inmenso amor durante 45 años. La alegría que José trajo a su vida es inmensurable, al igual que las lecciones que le enseñó a ella y a toda su familia sobre la importancia de la compasión y la familia.

A José le encantaba la música, especialmente las cumbias y norteñas de artistas como Fito Olivares, Los Cadetes de Linares y Renacimiento 74. En los últimos años, podías encontrar a José escuchando horas de su música favorita mientras tomaba el sol en su porche. José tenía una gran memoria. A menudo, en las reuniones familiares, sus hermanos contaban historias sobre su infancia y le preguntaban a José nombres, eventos, lugares y, para su asombro, él no sólo respondía bien la pregunta, sino que recordaba otros detalles olvidados hace mucho tiempo. José era particular y ordenado. Sabía lo que le gustaba y lo que no. Le gustaba disfrazarse y bailar. Le encantaban los sombreros y cachuchas. Tocaba el güiro y la batería. Nunca salía de casa sin oler a colonia. Era terco y cariñoso. Era divertido, se reía mucho y sus gestos con las manos eran los mejores.

José era respetado en su familia y vivía una vida digna.

A lo largo de su vida, José, que vivió con una discapacidad de desarrollo, participó en muchos programas y talleres en Houston. José hizo muchos amigos e incluso algunas novias. Mientras estaba fuera de casa, Nene practicó su inglés, aprendió a ser independiente, trabajó en proyectos y en un programa ganó un pequeño cheque de pago, que felizmente cobraba todos los viernes para gastarlo en una coca cola y papitas.

José se hizo amigo de sus médicos, enfermeras, taxistas y personal del programa. Hacía amigos en el supermercado, en la iglesia o simplemente fuera de casa, porque era una persona encantadora y educada. El recuerdo de José vivirá en cada uno de ellos.

A José le precedieron en la muerte su madre y su padre: Margarita Báez Pérez y Luis Pérez Pérez. A José le sobreviven su tutor legal y cuidador Gloria Pérez Paz y Carlos Paz, Sr.; sus hermanos y sus cuñados, Irma y Leo Sordia, Nancy y Beto Ruiz, Luis y Adelita Pérez, Raúl y Angélica Pérez; y sus sobrinas y sobrinos.

La familia y los seres queridos de José desean agradecer a todos aquellos que lo cuidaron durante su vida, incluidos sus médicos, enfermeras, terapeutas y personal del programa, incluidos el Dr. Sarwar, el Dr. Ali, el Dr. Mukardamwala, a Special Kind of TLC y Fresenius Kidney Care.