Nilsa G. Colon

Nilsa was born on December 1, 1939 in Ponce, Puerto Rico to Julio Gelpi-Cabrera and Dolores Rosario-Bayron de Gelpi. She was the beloved wife of Edelmiro Colon-Rangel of Old Saybrook who survives her.

After graduating high school Nilsa went on to nursing school and worked in the NICU for a short period of time. Later, she went to beauty school and became a hairdresser. She held various jobs with multiple organizations before retiring to be a full-time mother and home maker. She was proud of her home and her family. She lived for family and raised her children and grandchildren to be close and to take care of one another. Her husband Edelmiro was the love of her life and they would have been married 56 years this April. She had enormous faith and loved her Roman Catholic traditions. She prayed daily and when she could no longer make it physically to church, she would watch from home. She encouraged her loved ones to pray and to have faith. She loved her Spanish music immensely and dancing to Salsa. She was a great cook and loved cooking for her family and loved ones. She was a big lover of sweets and every summer had to make her way to Ashley’s at Bill Seafood for her favorite strawberry ice cream. She was the matriarch of her family and fondly known as “Mami or Mami Nilsa” to all. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Nilsa is survived by her husband Edelmiro Colon-Rangel; brother Osvaldo Gelpi & spouse Marta; sisters Lilliam & Genoveva Gelpi; children, Hipolito Rodriguez and wife Victoria, Brenda Rodriguez-Gray; Jacqueline Gelpi, Julio Colon, Anita Jones; grandchildren, Nickia Whitehead & spouse Nick, Jasminne Samuels, Jocelynne Bell and partner Angel Torres, Branden Rodriguez, Jarlinne Brooks, Ashley Colon, Octavia Rodriguez, Ashley Jones, Raven Colon, Hipolito Rodriguez III, Jordan Colon, Racquel Rodriguez, Elijah Nieves, adopted grandchildren Katie Pedinelli & LaToya Carlisle; great-grandchildren, Jayda Whitehead, Ayana Whitehead, Nitalya Whitehead, Indy Whitehead, Javian Avinger, Jasiel McCarter and Raiyn Fisher; plus many nieces, nephews and cousins which she loved and adored. Besides her parents, she is predeceased by her brothers, Pedro Gelpi, Manuel Gelpi, and Julio Gelpi.

Calling hours will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 9AM at Swan Funeral Home, 1224 Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook, CT 06475; followed by a Funeral Mass at 11AM at St. John’s Church, 161 Main St, Old Saybrook, CT 06475. Due to COVID-19 regulations there will not be a repass afterwards. In lieu of flowers we suggest you donate to Nilsa’s favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.