Elpidia B. Jusino

November 16, 1929 – December 24, 2025

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Elpidia Berrocal Jusino, 96, of Spring Hill, Florida. Elpidia was born in San German, Puerto Rico to Juanita Rivera and Santiago Berrocal. She received her degree in nursing from the Presbyterian Hospital in Santurce, Puerto Rico after which she began her 35+ year nursing career starting with the Public Health Service of Puerto Rico. In 1955 when her husband was transferred to Ft. Eustis, she, her mother and her 2-year-old son left Puerto Rico and followed her husband to Newport News, VA. After a short stint at Riverside Hospital, she began a 31 year career with the Civil Service, Department of Defense. She worked as an RN at several military hospitals including McDonald Army Hospital in Fort Eustis, VA, Heidelberg Army Hospital and Mannheim Dispensary in Germany, and William Beaumont General Hospital in Fort Bliss, TX. After retiring from Civil Service, Elpidia worked in the private sector as a nurse before completely retiring in 1999. She took great pride in her service to our soldiers and their families, often explaining that “I took care of them all from babies to generals.” Elpidia received numerous commendations for her work, including the Commander’s Service Award, and was loved and respected by all who knew her.

Elpidia was married for 51 years to the love of her life, Juan Armando Jusino, who served in the U.S. Army. She was able to find work wherever he was transferred, so she never had a break in service as a registered nurse. An added benefit of being a military wife was that she was able to travel to many different states in the U.S. and countries in Europe. Anyone who went to her house would be shown her many figurines and items that she had collected over the years, which she happily displayed and shared stories about. People often said that her house was like a museum. Collecting things was something that always brought her great joy.

Two things that were important to Elpidia were her faith and her family. Elpidia was a devoted and loving daughter, wife, mother of five children, grandmother of 14 grandchildren, and great-grandmother of five great-grandchildren. She took great pride in the accomplishments of her family. She was a kind, selfless person, and she would happily give the shirt off her back for her family and support them in whatever way she could. One of her greatest joys was spending time with her grandchildren, and they called her Bita, the name given to her by the first grandchild. Her children and grandchildren remember the “jumping rings” trick she did for them with her fingers, as she always left them in awe. Many worked hard to discover the secret. She was famous for having children play the “Guess Which Hand” game, in which guessing the correct hand resulted in a cash prize being dropped into their hands. Even the last time she saw her great-grandchildren in June, she had them do this. She would teach her grandchildren many different songs, including, “Pollito, Chicken,” “Pon, Pon, Pon,” “John Brown,” and songs she had learned as a child when she was in school. Her family will never forget Squeaker, an African ring-necked parrot that Elpidia raised from a chick and taught to speak and sing in English and in Spanish, mostly because he sounded and laughed just like her, accent and all.

Elpidia said that her pride was serving the Lord Jesus Christ, and she evidenced that in her life. She always said that God never forsakes us and was always with her. At her congregation, she was famous for her hugs and hospitality. While she was able, her home was always open to visitors and gatherings of all kinds. The more, the merrier. Many neighborhood children benefited from her hospitality, loving spirit, and generosity. One of those children once told her, “You don’t know it, but you saved this little girl’s life.” Even in her nineties, she found joy in service as she and her daughter-in-law helped sew face masks for nurses and the homeless during the Covid pandemic.

Elpidia was a friend to many, and like she was to her family, she was loyal and supportive of her friends. She always had an encouraging word or piece of advice. She loved to go visiting and have people visit her. She was someone who enjoyed being with people, and her life and the many pictures from her life evidence that.

Elpidia also had a great sense of adventure, and she would take a trip anywhere she could, and in later years, she was willing to go anywhere someone would take her. While she might not have looked it, she was fearless. It took a lot to get her rattled or upset. She never met a stranger, and if she heard someone speaking Spanish, she always approached them to find out where they were from and would invite them to her home. She loved to plant things in her yard until she was no longer able to do so.

Elpidia is survived by son, Armando (Tricia) Jusino, son, Arnold (Kim) Jusino, daughter, Wanda (Wayne) Vyborny, son, David (LuAnn) Jusino; grandchildren, Emily, Eleanor, Edward, Ellison, Matthew, Hailey, Julia, Kristen, Benjamin, Joshua, Stephanie, David, Kaleb; cousin Cayo Tio, whom she considers a brother. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her son Edgar (Kim) Jusino. Her family will remember as a wonderful mother and friend.

Elpidia was an example to all and was greatly loved. While we grieve at her passing and will greatly miss her presence, we also know that God has welcomed her home to a far better place and a great multitude who were waiting for her as she finished the race, and she will be there waiting for us someday.