WILFREDO MORALES

The life of Wilfredo Morales is a true American success story. He was an immigrant from Puerto Rico who rose above tremendous adversity to live a rich, full life in the country that he loved.

Wilfredo was born during the height of the Great Depression in Lares, Puerto Rico. At that time, Lares was an isolated mountain town. He was proud of his Puerto Rican heritage and of his home town. Whenever Wilfredo spoke of Lares, he would smile, pump his fist, and say “El Grito de Lares” (“the Cry of Lares”), a reference to a revolt for independence from Spain that started in his home town.

He grew up on his family’s coffee farm, with his parents and nine brothers and sisters, and learned to work hard from a young age. He was the eldest child and assumed much responsibility for the care of his siblings. He would get up early to feed animals, milk cows, pick coffee beans, and perform other duties before he walked the long distance to school. When he was nine years old, Wilfredo rode a horse to town to get groceries. He and his father made charcoal for fuel. In his teens, Wilfredo would drive his father’s truck loaded with bananas and plantains and sell them around the island. Although his formal education ended at sixth grade, he learned many important life lessons on the farm. It was a hard life, with no electricity, indoor plumbing, telephones, or other modern comforts.

At 22, he ventured by himself to Northern Ohio to find a better life. He paved the way for his family and was later joined by his brothers Rogelio, Miguel, Israel and Gilberto. In 1952, he worked on farms in Sandusky, picking asparagus and corn. He worked on the railroads, laying track and performing other manual tasks for low wages. Although he was poor and worked hard, Wilfredo remembered those days fondly. On occasion, he would drive to Sandusky and reminisce about the farms and railroad where he toiled. He talked about the good times that he had with his brothers, especially driving around the area with his brothers Miguel and Rogelio, listening to country music on his days off. 

Later in the 1950’s, Wilfredo moved to Cleveland and found work at a plating company. He became a shop leader that could fix anything. The owner of Weber Plating depended on him greatly to instruct and supervise the workers, especially the Spanish-speaking workers that he recruited. The people at  Weber were very sad, but understanding, when in 1965, Wilfredo left to work for King Musical Instruments, a job that offered medical insurance benefits. At King, he distinguished himself as a worker, earning the nickname “Speedy” because he accomplished so much in so little time.

Wilfredo’s life was full of challenges that at time were unbearable, but he found a way. His first marriage ended in divorce and his two boys from that marriage, Wilfredo Jr. and Eliezer, went to Puerto Rico to be raised by his parents. He became active in his church and met and married his second wife Carmen Paoli. Wilfredo and Carmen had two boys, Edgardo and Egdilio. Unfortunately, in 1964, when his youngest sons were four and two-years old, tragedy struck when his beloved wife had a terrible accident that left her paralyzed from the waist down.

Carmen was hospitalized for long periods after the accident and Wilfredo struggled to care for her and his two youngest boys. However, he overcame this adversity and, because of his desire to see his sons succeed, he made sure that they received the best education possible, sending them to Catholic schools. He worked on his days off painting houses with his brother Rogelio. Like his brothers Miguel and Gilberto, Wilfredo saved his money and, in his late fifties, began to invest in real estate. He built his business and eventually owned several rental properties. He worked tirelessly fixing and managing his properties into his nineties. 

Wilfredo loved and cared for his wife Carmen for many years until her death in 1998. He was proud of his sons and their achievements and saw Wilfredo Jr. and Eliezer have good careers in Puerto Rico, Edgardo become a small business owner, and his youngest son, Egdilio, graduate from college and become a lawyer. 

He will be remembered as a strong man, with a great sense of humor and a generous spirit. He was an amazing cook whose Arroz Con Gandules was second to none! In his later years, he was a wonderful grandfather who glowed with pride over the character and achievements of his grandsons Elito, Dominic, and Daniel. He was very close to his youngest granddaughter, Marissa Carmen Morales, who looks so much like his beloved wife. He loved music and dancing and enjoyed seeing Marissa play guitar in her rock band. 

Wilfredo was a truly humble man who rose from an impoverished beginning and became a successful businessman and leader of the Morales family legacy in Ohio. His life truly embodied the American Dream.

Wilfredo Morales is survived by his sons, Eliezer (Ines), Edgardo (Paula), Egdilio (Alicka). His oldest son Wilfredo Jr. passed away in 2019. He is survived by his sisters: Blanca, Margarita, Nilda, Gloria, and brothers Gilberto and Angel-Luis. His brothers Rogelio, Miguel and Israel are deceased. He is survived by his grandchildren Wilfredo III, Edgar Jr., Jaycell, Elito, Dominic, Daniel and Marissa. Wilfredo’s grandchild Elvin is deceased. He has two great-grandchildren, Elier and Elvin.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the La Sagrada Familia Church, 7719 Detroit Avenue on Monday December 18, 2023 at 10:00 AM (EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT THE CHURCH)  Entombment will follow at Brooklyn Heights Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday December 17, 2023 from 3 - 7 PM at THE A. RIPEPI AND SONS FUNERAL HOME, 18149 BAGLEY ROAD, MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OHIO 44130 (WEST of I-71)