Memorial Service

On Tuesday, February 28, 2012 our family was informed of Eligio’s accident and passing. Needless to say this news left us in total shock and painfully grieving our dear uncle’s loss. In Eligio’s honor, our family has united. With everyone’s help through stories and picture gathering, we have put together this memorial service to honor the life of our precious brother, uncle, grandfather and great grandfather Eligio Loperena Sr.

Eligio left behind three children: From his first marriage to Ana Lydia Torres- Loperena, from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, their daughter, Elsie Gladys Loperena- Orlando, Florida; Elsie's chidren,Denise Marie Acevedo - Alu and Anthony Acevedo.  Elsie's grandchildren, Joseph Salvartore Alu, Nicolette Maria Alu,Michael  Alu, Anthony Frank  Acevedo, Mia Gabrielle Acevedo. His son Eligio Loperena Jr, PA.  Eligio Jr. is Married to Delia Loperena  and reside in Lake Butler, FL. Eligio Jr’s  children are Eric Jayson Loperena, Melanie Loperena, Michelle Loperena-Kieth, Eligio Jr’s grandchildren: Zacharey Brown, Jayden Loperena,  Phoenix Loperena, Timothy Lee. From Eligio's second Marriage to Hilda Thim Loperena their son Dr. Rudolph Loperena who is married to Carol Loperena and they have a daughter Angela Loperena.

Siblings : Alex, Amanda, Marina, Angie and a niece Carmen Eddie who was raised as their sister. There are also various nieces and nephews that loved him very much.

Eligio was born in Aguadilla,Puerto Rico on 2/13/1927.  He immigrated to the United States in 1945 with his first wife Ana Lydia Torres- Loperena . Eligio enlisted in the Army and went to war in Germany  around the end of 1947 or begining of 1948; he returned to the United States and got discharged from the Army. Eligio and Lydia were married for approximately 5 years and they had two children Elsie and Eligio Jr. In 1950, Eligio and Lydia were divorced. Eligio then re-enlisted in the Army and returned to Germany. In 1953 Eligio married his second wife of 59 years from Germany, Hilda Thim. They had one son Rudolf in NYC and later moved to Deland,Florida where Eligio spent the rest of his life. Eligio’s personality was that of a prankster, a loving man and an artist. Eligio also was a hard working man.   

Throughout his life Eligio had several jobs while living in New York City. He worked making blue prints and also worked in a factory making Eveready batteries. He worked at another place where he would repair watches. In addition, Eligio also worked in a Button factory. While in Florida, Eligio worked for Sherwood Medical, making medical tools and dye.

Eligio was very proud of being Puerto Rican and that was reflected in his passion for paintings. He painted pictures of his hometown and his family. He would call his granddaughter Angela, his Spanish beauty.

Memories of Eligio Loperena from family and a neighbor.

Daughter: Elsie remembers when she was a little girl and her father Eligio would be waiting to pick her up at nursery school. As he waited for her, Eligio would walk by the window and wave a bag of candy to his daughter. Another pleasant memory was during a visit to New York City, after his mother’s funeral.  Eligio left the crowd and met his daughter Elsie with Eligio’s brother Manolin and Manolin’s daughter Carmen Eddie at the Bayridge Diner in Brooklyn. They shared some private, quiet bonding time. The visit was full of excitement for all. There was lots of love, laughter, stories and joy.  

Brother: Alex remembers when Eligio was a teenager. Eligio and his younger brother Alex would go out on their grandfather’s farm and go picking for mangoes and breadfruit. Alex also shared a sad story of how much their mom would cry when Eligio went off into the Army.  

Sister: Amanda remembers Eligio helping her get a job in a Button factory in 1947 while in New York City. She briefly lived with Eligio and his first wife Lydia. She remembers while working at the factory, they would send Eligio to deliver buttons at another factory or somewhere else. When Eligio would come back, he would bring her a bag of candy. Amanda also remembers Eligio always trying to better himself in life through higher education. Eligio was quite a nice dresser as well. She also remembers Eligio had a good sense of humor and had a nickname for her like “Pana” and he would continuously like to tease her. He was a relentless man and loved his siblings dearly.

Sister: Marina’s fondest memory is that she looked like Eligio. She describes Eligio in his younger years as always being happy; he was a good man and a very nice brother who was always there for her during their years as kids.

Sister: Angie remembers Eligio joking with her as a sibling. Angie says that Eligio had a passion for painting art. She cherishes the two paintings that he gave her which he painted while he was in Germany. Angie says that when she sees the paintings, they remind her of her dear brother.

Sister: Carmen Eddy remembers as a small child how she would love to spend the weekends at Eligio’s home with his first wife Lydia. Carmen would play with her cousins Elsie and Jr., as Eligio made repairs in the home.

Neighbor: Joanne Francher remembers Eligio as a hard worker. Mrs. Francher has been their neighbor since 1996. Mrs. Francher states that Eligio had a passion for working in the yard and at times she would worry he worked too hard. She would take him a Popsicle or an ice tea and also said he enjoyed taking daily walks. When sharing about Eligio’s sense of humor, Mrs. Francher said that when she would walk by Eligio he would always stop and salute her.

I want to conclude by saying that Eligio entered the gates of heaven on 2/25/2012. He is no longer suffering. Eligio’s body has been made whole and he is now with his mother Leonidas, his father Manuel, his brother’s Sammy and Manolin and our dear savior Jesus Christ. Uncle Eligio, we will miss you very much. May God bless you and keep you in his tender care until he brings us together again.  Until then, never forget that we will always love you.

We invite everyone to view the pictures of Eligio’s and his extended family and to leave a message if you wish.