She was born in Naranjito, Puerto Rico November 11, 1931 to Pedro Pablo and Epifania (Burgos) Berrios.
Numidia graduated from nursing school in 1954 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and shortly after while attending a friend’s wedding she met and fell in love with her soulmate, Lewis Joseph Grace. Lew was a sailor in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Puerto Rico. They were married in Naranjito, P.R. on May 28, 1955. They left Puerto Rico and were soon engulfed in military life. This meant raising their family on the go, traveling, and living all over the world. They especially enjoyed their time in Italy and Okinawa.
After 30 years in the Navy, Lew retired and they settled into their forever home on Evelyn St. in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1978. Numi worked as an R.N. and was so beloved by all her patients and everyone she worked with. She retired from Driscoll Children’s as a Patient Representative in the mid-’80s.
Lew and Numi shared 64 wonderful years. Their love was the kind that they make movies about. Lew passed away on March 11, 2020. She cared for him and loved him with her whole heart. They lived and breathed for each other and his passing left her heartbroken. They lovingly raised two beautiful children, helped raise their grandchildren, and adored their great-grandchildren who they spent as much time with as possible.
Numi made everyone around her happy. She was warm and kind and selfless. She had a gift of making everyone she knew feel so special and so loved. She was incredibly kindhearted and she had the cutest voice you’d ever heard. She loved her family and friends so much and prayed for every one of them. She was so compassionate and giving. She donated to many charities.
Numi was a devout Catholic. She knew God’s love and prayed her rosary daily. She prayed for everyone and her faith was unwavering. She was honest, respectful, courageous, and virtuous. Her smile lit up our lives and her laugh was contagious. To those who knew her, she was nearly perfect.
Numi was beautiful and brave! She was incredibly creative and crafty. She could sew anything and made gorgeous quilts and made many baby blankets for loved ones with her heart in every stitch. She loved birds, especially hummingbirds. She enjoyed her garden and plants, especially flowers. Her favorite flower was a yellow carnation. She loved spending time with her family and friends and was the best hostess anyone ever knew. She was organized and tidy and everything she owned always looked like it was brand new. She had an adorable fashion sense and always matched. She was an amazing cook and had so many incredible signature dishes that her family loved, especially her Arroz con gandules and her famous coquito.
She enjoyed going out to eat with family and was always a very generous tipper. Lew and Numi never knew an enemy and they made a friend out of everyone they met. They were everyone’s favorite couple. They are reunited in heaven now and will remain an inspiration to all that knew them. To say they will be missed is, to put it mildly. We are all better humans for having known them and witnessed their love.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 64 years, Lewis J. Grace; both of her parents; her brother, Pablo; nephew, Javi, and many other family members and friends.
She is survived by her loving children; Lewis Joseph Grace Jr., Lisa Grace Wagner (Jerry), and her step-son Lewis Albert Grace (Emma). Grandchildren; Kaytee Heinrichs (Josh) and Eddie Baxter. Step-grandchildren; Sierra Andrews (Adam) and Jason Wagner. Great-grandchildren; Kaya, Aston, and Olivia Heinrichs and numerous step-grand and great-grandchildren. Brothers; Luis, Juan, Ferdo, and Carlos. Sisters; Dula, Aida, Isa and Toddy, and many other family members and friends.
Visitation will begin on Wednesday, October 28, 2020, from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm, the rosary will be recited at 1:30 pm, and a vigil service at 2:00 pm at Funeraria del Angel Memorial Holly
3442 Holly Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78415
