Leonila Nerier Lavides

Leonila Nerier Lavides, “Nanay,” was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She passed away on October 17, 2021 at the age of 93 years old.

Leonila was born to Teodorico Nerier and Dorotea Delda on January 17, 1928 in Atimonan, Quezon, Philippines. She graduated from high school at Atimonan Academy in 1949. Right after graduating high school, she was recruited to be an emergency public school teacher for the Atimonan Public School District. She married Sofronio Lavides in June, 1954 and then completed her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Luzonian Colleges in 1956.

Leonila was a passionate Science and English teacher for various grade levels at Atimonan Public School District. She was well-respected and loved by her students and colleagues. She was appointed to be Master Teacher. Her students described her as “a cool teacher blessed with calmness.” In the 1960s, she worked closely with the first US Peace Corps volunteers assigned to Atimonan Public School District. A gentle and pious woman, she was also an active member of the Mother Butler of the Our Lady of the Angels Parish (Atimonan, Quezon). Along with her husband, Sofronio, she was also a Rotarian. She retired in 1990 and immigrated to New Jersey, United States in January 1994.
Leonila is survived by her four daughters (Cecilia Lavides-Lim, Maria Teresa Lavides Saligumba, Margarita Lavides, and Myrna Lavides), son-in-laws (Valentino Lim and Eliseo Saligumba), and her two grandchildren (Valerie Lavides Lim and Joseph Francis Timothy Saligumba).
Leonila loved to spend time in the garden and was an avid reader. During the holidays, her family looked forward to her delicious macaroni salad and pancit molo. She is described by her loved ones as calm, soft-spoken, organized, prayerful, well-informed, and well-read.
The visitation will be held at Riewerts Memorial Home, 187 S Washington Ave., Bergenfield, NJ on Thursday, October 28 from 7-10 PM and Friday, October 29 from 6-10 PM. There will be a Funeral Mass at St. Mary's R.C. Church, 280 Washington Ave., Dumont, NJ on Saturday at 11 AM.