Josefina M. Perea

Lord on July 22, 2022 at age 92. Josefina was born on February 23, 1930 in the city of Santa

Clara, Cuba, where she grew up with loving parents and eight siblings. She is survived by her

devoted husband of 65 years Pablo Perea, daughters Rosa (Ben) Bassett and Rosicler (Ty)

Diamond, grandchildren Laura (Stephen) Madsen, Benjamin (Karen) Bassett, Allison Diamond,

Sara Diamond and Rachel (Sam) Allen, and great-grandchildren Lucia Madsen, Annie Bassett,

and Artie Madsen. She is also survived by one brother Pascacio (Maria) Herrera.

Josefina lived a life characterized by faith in the Lord, love of family, and generous stewardship

of her resources and talents. In 1956, she graduated from the Universidad de La Habana,

Escuela de Farmacia, and in November of that year she married Pablo Perea. In 1962, they fled

communist Cuba with their precious young daughters, and came to the United States to forge a

new life. Eventually, the family made their way to West Palm Beach, where Josefina poured her

energies into her young family and church. She was one of the founders of the Primera Iglesia

Bautista Hispana, which began as a mission in 1964. There, she was instrumental in fundraising

for a new building as the church transitioned from a mission to a full-fledged independent

church. Her talent for fundraising extended even to baking brownies with her daughters so they

could sell them at church after Sunday services. Even though she never studied finances,

others quickly recognized her financial acumen, so that for many years she served as the

treasurer of the church. Never one to tire, she also helped found the church’s senior citizen

group 16 years ago, and served as church trustee to the end of her life.

In the late 1970's she was able to regain her pharmacy license in Florida with the help of special

remote classes offered by The University of Florida. She then worked as a registered

pharmacist at Eckerd Drugs, and later at the 45th Street Mental Health Center. Always with a

project in hand, she enjoyed sewing, finding ways to develop her financial savvy, reading, and

traveling several times to Europe, especially Spain. A faithful Christian, she never missed

reading her Bible, and her family remembers how during the Christmas season, she would take

the cards she received and pray for those families. Generous in spirit, she had a heart for

people in need and used her wisdom and personal resources to help them as she was able.

Josefina was known for her positive attitude and gregarious personality, and she enjoyed her

family to the fullest. She was a faithful and loving daughter to her parents Margarito and Nieves,

and was very involved with extended family, cherishing family reunions where she could chat

and trade stories with her siblings and their children. As her grandchildren were growing up,

there was nothing better than having an outing or a sleep over with their Mimi. She loved to

coddle them, even sometimes bringing breakfast in bed at a grandchild’s request.

In short, her servant’s heart and love of family was illuminated in everything she did. We will

miss her dearly.

Please join us as we celebrate her life and mourn her passing. Visitation will be

Thursday July 28 from 5PM to 8PM at Quattlebaum Funeral Home, 6411 Parker Avenue.

Funeral services will be held at Quattlebaum at 10AM Friday July 29, followed by interment at

Hillside Memorial Park.

For those wishing to make memorial gifts, the family requests flowers or donations to

missionaries Tim and Onilda Broach of Apoyo ministries in Latin America through

reachbeyond.org.