Nereida Gilbert

On January 14, 2020….Nereida “Nery” Rodriguez Gilbert, age 66, passed away peacefully after a short illness at her daughter’s home in Ledyard, CT. She was a loving daughter, sister, mother, wife and grandmother. Nery was born on June 8, 1954 in Bronx, New York. She was the first born of the late Jose Rodriguez and Flor Maria Otero.

She is survived by her devoted Husband of 42 years William Claude Gilbert of Arden, North Carolina, her beloved children, Stephen Rodriguez Gilbert, his wife Michelle Gilbert of Raynham Massachusetts and Alysha Allena Rodriguez Yepes, and her husband Hector Yepes of Ledyard Connecticut. She is the proud grandmother of five beautiful grandchildren, Corey, Aliana, Adrian, Vivianna and Lorena. She is also survived by her loving brother, Edwin Rodriguez of Fall River, MA and is predeceased by her brother Jose Rodriguez JR.

Nery grew up in New York City before settling in Puerto Rico, where she married and began to raise her family. Thereafter Nery and her family relocated back to the US and spent time living in Bethel, CT, Wayne, NJ, Assonet, MA, Amherst, NH, East Greenwich, RI and Arden, NC. While her most cherished job was as a homemaker while raising her children, she very much enjoyed working later in life. She spent her last 10 years as a receptionist at Blue Ridge Tax Advisors and the last 4 years as a CNA for Home Care Free in Biltmore Forest Asheville, NC.

Nery was a very compassionate and giving person. She was loved by all who had the fortune to know her. She leaves behind a legacy of love, beauty, kindness, and laughter to all those she touched. Most of all, she loved her family and instilled strong, traditional values that passed to her grandchildren. She was a talented seamstress, crocheter and master quilter.

She enjoyed teaching her grandchildren and friends the skill and donating her hand-made socks, hats and stuffed animals to the local church and hospital. She enjoyed travel, spending time throughout the Caribbean and Europe with her husband, enriched by food and culture. Her last trip was to Israel with her son, to connect with her deep spiritual Christian faith.

Nery led a beautiful life, filled with adventure, adversity, love and faith. She will be deeply missed but will continue to inspire all of those of whose lives she touched.

Arrangements have been made for a private service by Pontarelli-Marino Funeral Home in Providence, Rhode Island and she will be graciously laid to rest at Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, Rhode Island.

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