Cheryl "Sherie" Rae Nunez

Cheryl Rae Nuñez, 75, went home into the glorious presence of our Lord and Savior on November 21, 2021 surrounded by loved ones after a long courageous battle with ovarian cancer. As a testament to her great faith, her spirit and strength in the Lord never wavered. Cancer did not win because Christ has conquered death!

Cheryl Nuñez, known to all as “Sherie”, was born on July 19, 1946 in New York City, New York at Manhattan Presbyterian Hospital to parents Rafael and Pansy Maxine Penzo. She was the oldest of four children and grew up attending and loving church from a very young age. She also accepted forgiveness from Christ Jesus and knew Him as her personal savior from very early on in her life. From that point on her focus was always; God first, family second, and love of others third. This was obvious to those who knew her well.

Sherie Grew up in the Penzo family home at 1011 E. 6th Ave. in Hialeah. She attended Hialeah Elementary, Miami Springs Junior High, and graduated from Miami Andrew Jackson Senior High School class of 1964. She would go on to earn an Associates of Arts at what was known at the time as Miami Dade Junior College. Sherie would then start at a brand new university known as Florida International University (FIU). Her studies would be put on hold to raise two children and to help run the family business. Sherie would later go back to FIU, at the same time as daughter Stephanie, to complete her Bachelors of Arts degree in English. She graduated December 21, 1992 with honors, as a member of the English Honor Society and the Educational Honor Society.

“She is the kindest person I have ever met” is how her husband Ted Nuñez often described her to others. She married Ted Nuñez on July 11, 1966 at the office of chaplain Charles Danforth at Hialeah Hospital. They would have two amazing children (of which I am one of course), Stephanie Rae Nuñez and Ryan Tyler Nuñez who would eternally benefit from their mothers nurturing instinct, kindness towards all, selfless spirit, sharp mind, tremendous memory, and loving patience.

Sherie was involved in many activities, all of which included her children and others whom she loved dearly. She enjoyed leading her brownie and Girl Scout troops, keeping score for baseball games, attending all softball games and church or school events. Her hobbies weren’t limited to, but include; reading, writing, knitting, painting, embroidering, sewing, macramé, playing piano, and baking and decorating beautiful cakes for so many of her friends and family for many years. She especially loved writing and children.

Sherie had many occupations along the way from candy striper to telephone operator to being employed at a major medical malpractice insurance agency; not to leave out her many years as a substitute teacher in both Christian and public school. Sherie and Ted would make an incredible team. As brokers they would start and run Real Estate Sales and Service where uncle Willie and cousin Rosie would later join. Later they would start Taylor Made Kitchens where again they would complement each other beautifully to make the company a success for over 33 years. The way they ran these businesses was an example of hard work and integrity that will never be forgotten.

Above all things Sherie loved God and Jesus and cherished her time in church. She attended First Baptist Church of Hialeah in the early days and later was a part of Pastor Al Janney’s New Testament Baptist Church. She then took her children to Campus Church at Florida Christian where they attended school thanks to the many sacrifices of their loving parents. Later in life she was a loyal member of Pastor Linton Fowler’s Calusa Community Church. In the final six years of her life Gateway Baptist Church became her church home, where she enjoyed helping out for a few summers of vacation Bible school and helping in the children’s church. Throughout the years Sherie would teach “junior church” and always had a heart for children.

One of the joys of her life was the blessing of hosting her brothers and sisters in Christ for Bible study on Thursday nights. This was a precious and treasured time that God allowed her to experience.

If she loved you and even if she didn’t know you she would want you to know this:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not Perish, but have everlasting life”

John 3:16 KJV

She wants you to have everlasting life and to enjoy an eternity together with you and with God. This is true love!

Grateful to God for the abundant blessing of having Sherie in their lives are daughter Stephanie Rae Nuñez , son Ryan Tyler Nuñez, sunshine of her life and one of her greatest blessings granddaughter Abby Rae Nuñez. Brothers, Jerald Lee Penzo and wife Louise, Dr. Dean Wayne Penzo and wife Patricia, and father Rafael Penzo.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ted, mother Pansy, and her brother Rayfield Patrick Penzo.

Those who knew Sherie well will rejoice with us as we know she has heard the precious words:

“WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT” Mat.25:23KJV

In lieu of flowers; please make donations her favorite charity "Samaritan's Purse"