Josefa Perez

She had been in failing health and passed away peacefully Saturday in Falls Church, Virginia, hospital where she was surrounded by her four children. She was preceded in death by her husband, Orlando Perez, who passed almost 23 years earlier in El Paso, Texas.

Born Nov. 8, 1929, in Havana, Cuba, she was the youngest of the four daughters of Francisco Mari Torres and Francisca Torres Rivas. Her father was a fisherman, and some of her fondest childhood memories were sailing on his fishing boat, “El Mari.”

She married Orlando Perez on May 14, 1950 in Cuba. The couple came to the United States in December 1960 to escape the communist regime, always intending one day to come back home to their beloved island. But instead the family settled in El Paso, Texas, where Josefa Perez worked as an editor for the Baptist Spanish Publishing House. She was also a supportive partner in the ministry of her husband, a Baptist pastor.

As the years passed, the couple made a life in the United States for themselves and their children. Josefa Perez would encourage her children repeatedly not to waste the opportunities in this great country where anyone could succeed if they study and work hard enough.

She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is survived by her son Orlando Perez Jr., and his wife, Patricia Leighton; her daughter Roxana Perez Hegeman and her husband, Douglas Hegeman; her son Edward Perez and his wife, Kathy Perez; and her daughter, Judith Perez and Jimmy Sayklay.

She was affectionately called “Abuela” by her grandchildren: Aaron and his wife Amie, Eric and Sarah Hegeman; Christina, Abigail, Caroline, Brenley and Alexander Perez; and Sierra Price. She also leaves behind three great-grandchildren: Elizabeth, Henry and Harlan Hegeman.

A graveside service will be held Thursday December 17, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Restlawn Memorial Park in El Paso.