Maria F. Valentin

It is with great sadness that the Valentin family marks the passing of Maria Felicita Perez Valentin of North Bergen, NJ on December 16th, 2023. Maria was born in Utuado, Puerto Rico to parents Francisca Gonzalez and Ramon Perez, and was the ninth of fifteen siblings in a close-knit family. Maria is predeceased by her husband Gualberto Valentin, Sr., her beloved eldest daughter, Evelyn Valentin Malave, and her son-in-law, Edward Sequeira. She leaves behind her daughter, Frances Sequeira, her son Gualberto Valentin, Jr., her grandchildren Johnny, Daniel, Victoria, Christina, Noel, Jeremy, Aimee, Ariana, and Lily, as well as her great-grandchildren Sebastian and Isabella. She is survived by her siblings Myrna, Ivan, Elizabeth, Angel, Monin, Amelia, Matilde, and sister Irma who selflessly devoted herself to her care.

Maria married Henry (Gualberto, Sr.) in the 1950's and moved to Long Island where she and her husband worked in a leather goods factory. Over her lifetime she was a resident of Hoboken, Jersey City, and Union City, until finally settling into her forever home in North Bergen with her family. In her thirties, Maria returned to school to study nursing. She became a nurse’s aide at the Meadowview Hospital, Secaucus in the Psychiatric and long-term care unit for over 40 years until her retirement. She also worked as a home-care attendant for many years assisting elders in their homes where she was highly valued by the families for her professionalism and outstanding care of their loved ones. Fela was a woman of strong faith, and a member of the Iglesia Bautista Reformada where she attended church every Sunday without fail.

Fela, as she was lovingly known to her friends and family, was a hard-working, caring mother to her children, and generous to all those in need. She was especially close to her grandchildren who were her pride and joy. She enjoyed every minute visiting with them and baby-sitting when possible. She was especially close to the two she helped raise Daniel, whose kindness and quiet nature was so like Fela’s, and Lily whose mischievous toddler antics always kept Fela on her toes.

Fela was the matriarch of the Valentin family, and although her loss presents such a great void in our lives, her love, strength, faith, and resilience lives in each of us, and continues to provide us a path to healing. She will be greatly missed by all and will always be remembered with great love and an abundance of happy memories. She was one-of-a-kind, irreplaceable…beloved, and will live forever in our hearts.

A visitation for Maria will be held Tuesday, December 26 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM followed by a funeral service at Mack Memorial Home, 1245 Paterson Plank Road, Secaucus, NJ. burial to follow at Brookside Cemetery, Englewood, NJ.