Adriana Gomez Ayala

Adriana Gomez Ayala of Pace, Florida was born on January 11, 1937 in El Bluff, Nicaragua, Central America. She passed away peacefully on January 25, 2026, at home and surrounded by family, at the age of 89 in Pace, Florida. She was one of nine children, sixth among two brothers and six sisters.

In the 1950’s she moved to New Orleans, Louisiana to attend college. It was there that she found the love of her life and married in 1956. She raised her three children in Metairie, LA. In 1989 she moved with her family to Marietta, Georgia, followed by another move in 2002 to Omaha, Nebraska. In 2014, she and the family made their final move to Pace, Florida. Adriana always ensured that she would be around for her children and grandchildren, no matter where that took her.

Adriana volunteered as a teachers’ aid at Helen Keller School in Metairie, LA in the early 70’s, helping the mentally challenged and disabled. During the 70’s and 80’s, she took care of babies and young children in her home. Later in life she moved to both Marietta, Georgia and Omaha, Nebraska to be close enough to care for her six grandchildren. Spending time with her grandchildren was one of the things she enjoyed the most in life.

She helped found the Hispanic Ministry at St Thomas the Apostle Church in Smyrna, GA. She loved to sew, crochet, cook, and bake her special family dishes from Nicaragua. She loved playing cards and taught the game Desmoches to her whole family, so they could play with her. She made amazing bread, pan dulce and nacatamales among her specialties. Adriana loved to travel by any means of transportation, always excited for trips big and small. Some of her favorites included driving by the beaches near home, drives to Disney World and New Orleans with her daughter, and a family road trip to Mt. Rushmore. She loved flying out to visit family in California, New York, Colorado, Nebraska, and Michigan, and had amazing adventures on personal cruises to Mexico and the Caribbean. With her vibrant, generous, outgoing personality, Adriana made friends easily wherever she went.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Alberto F. Gomez and Graciela Real; her husband of 48 years, Jose’ Gustavo Ayala; her oldest son, José “Toño” Antonio Ayala; her siblings, Salvador (Daisy) Abaunza, Yolanda (Juan Ramon) Brenes, Juanita Demiranda, Delia Amador Peters, Amanda del Carmen Gomez, Matilda (Ramon) Mendieta , Alberto Gomez Jr.; and many loving tías, tíos, primos and sobrinos.

She is survived by her children, Roxanna Ayala (Keith) Watson and Gustavo Alberto Ayala, Sr.; her grandchildren, Christopher Joseph (Van) Watson, Amanda Graciela Watson, William Robert Watson, Maritza Adriana Watson, Adriana Graciela Ayala, Gustavo Alberto Ayala Jr.; her last living sister, Ana Julia Quirin; and an abundance of beloved nieces, nephews, in-laws, and other relatives in every branch and generation of her family, many of whom she held as close to her heart as children and grandchildren of her own.

Adriana was a devout Catholic. Her love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Lord Jesus Christ, and Heavenly Father Above was prominent in her daily life, and she made it a priority to pray the rosary each day, usually two or three times. Later in life, she included at least one televised Mass daily and remained adamant about scheduling any other appointments around it. She loved to read the different scriptures in her Bible and enjoyed stories about the lives of the different Holy Saints. She wanted everyone in the family to remember to treat others with respect and dignity. To Adriana, family was always the most important aspect of her life.

The family would like to thank Emerald Coast Hospice for the care and compassion they showed our loved one in her final days. We would also like to thank all the wonderful family and friends that visited and called to check in on her. All of you made her feel so special and loved throughout the last part of her life.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Mass for Adriana at Nativity of our Lord Catholic Church at 9945 Hillview Drive, Pensacola, Florida 32514 on Thursday February 12, 2026 at 11 a.m. Visitation with the family will begin at 10 a.m..

Interment to follow at Bayview Memorial Park Cemetery at 3351 Scenic Highway 90E Pensacola, FL 32503. Reception to follow at the Bayview Funeral Home.