Nelida Nieves- Ferdows

Neli was born to Antonio and Juana Nieves on October 13, 1949 in Fort Brooke, San Juan, Puerto Rico. She was the third child of 12 children. She actually grew up traveling because dad was in the army but Bayamon was called home when she was growing up. As we grew up together in tough times, she use to make up games, for example modeling and she would be the judge, also singing and dancing. She went to schools in U.S. and in Puerto Rico. Graduated from high school at the Dr. Agustin Stahl in Bayamon, P.R., then assisted to the Universidad de Puerto Rico, recinto de Rio PIedras and from there graduated from the school of nursing in P.R. to become a RN. Worked for a short period of time at El Centro Medico in Rio Piedras, P.R. She loved to draw and to read. She was very proud of her heritage and always talked about that. She moved to Lowell, Massachusetts with our family and got married and later divorced. She loved traveling to the Islands especially to visit the love of her life Eddie F. Pom from Aruba who later passed away. This was devastating for her. She moved to California about 30 years ago and made it her home and worked at the V.A. hospital in Long Beach for about 25 years and retired a few years ago due to illness. She was a hard working, independent woman and was sure to make some of her dreams come true. Neli did not have any children but spent time with her nieces and nephews and their children. She was a giving person and loved each one of her family members. Family was very important to her. Addie (rip) and Lola, her dogs were very special to her, they were her family also. She spent 2012 Christmas in Florida with me, (Nereida) and she was sick but enjoyed every minute of her stay. We talked about everything remembering our childhood and one of the things she mentioned the most how our dad called her "his princess". She was planning moving closer to her family in Florida but God had other plans for her. She is resting now and will be missed. Survived by Junior, Tito, Leida, Nere, Letty, Berto, Damaris, Ivan, Lissie and Johnfi. Love you Neli from all of your family.