Irene Cernuda

Obituary: Irene (Sánchez) Cernuda

Irene (Sánchez) Cernuda, 90 of Nashua, formerly of Havana, Cuba passed away in Nashua, NH on Thurs, July 19, 2018 alongside her loving daughter, Mercedes Cernuda.

Irene was born in Havana, Cuba on Thurs, June 28, 1928, daughter of Gabriel Luis Sanchez and Angela Lopez Sanchez.  She was a devout Catholic for many years and in 1962 after arriving in the U.S. the Methodist Church of Tampa, FL adopted our family and assisted my Dad in getting established and relocating the family to Nashua, NH; and thus, began the families’ 55-year journey within the Methodist Church and although she was very fond of her Methodist community she was still a devout Catholic in her heart and in her earlier years she attended the Spanish Service at St. Aloysius of Gonzaga Parish Service from time to time. 

Life in the U.S. initially was extremely difficult for her as she left her parents, siblings and nieces and nephews behind in Cuba the only thing that gave her strength was God and her children. She managed a household of (6) children and always put others before herself a character that she inherited from her loving parents. She had several part-time jobs throughout the years at Christmas time to have extra money for her children, but her favorite part-time job was working in the Mailroom at The Telegraph on Main Street – Nashua, NH and also when they moved to Hudson, NH… this job was late in life just to get out of the house. Although, she was never fluent in English she understood very well and folks understood her as well once they got to know her. But my mother’s primary vocation was an “Ambassador for Christ” she worshiped Christ and had a lot of Faith in God and her legacy is most definitely a “Prayer Warrior” she Prayed for family and friends, our Leaders, our Country, Cuba, and the World…  She would light up a room with her smile especially when her grandchildren visited her.

Irene was pre-deceased by: her husband Armando J. Cernuda of which she was amicably separated from at the time of his death, a loving granddaughter, Lucy Fatima Rodrigues Cernuda, (4) sisters, Caridad (Gil) Sanchez, Manuela (Castillo) Sanchez, Genoveva Sanchez, (5) nephews, Eloy Castillo, Alberto Gil, Mario Castillo, Trino Castillo, Lazaro Gil.

She is survived by: her (6) children: Pedro Cernuda, George Cernuda and his wife Betty and Robert Cernuda and his wife Maria, Olga Fernandez and her husband Mario, Hilda “Heidi” Slosek and her husband John and Mercedes Cernuda (9) Grandchildren; Jennifer Guilmette and Darren, Jason Cernuda, Lisa Frenette and Randy, Michele Bienvenue-Cernuda and Ann, Kristen Peterson and Eric,  Monica Tino and Chad, Angela Markley and Jay, Eric Slosek and Christina and John Slosek and  Peggy, (13) Great-Grandchildren, Karissa Dery and Steve, Ethan and Noah Frenette, Parker, Preston and Porter Bienvenue-Cernuda, Brianna Peterson,  Jack and James Markley, Madelyn and Mario Tino, Natalie and Benjamin Slosek and (2) Great-Great Grandchildren, Marilyn and Steven Dery with a 3rd Great-Great Grandchild due in August.

She also has several nieces, nephews and cousins in the U.S., Cuba, and Canada

SERVICES: Visiting hours will be held on Tues., July 24, 2018 from 8:30AM to 9:30AM at the Anctil-Rochette & Son Funeral Home, 21 Kinsley St., Nashua;  Mass at 10:00AM at St. Aloysius of Gonzaga Parish followed by burial at St. Francis Cemetery, both of Nashua. 

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to Main St. United Methodist Church, St. Aloysius of Gonzaga Parish or the Dysphagia Support Foundation: http://swallowingdisorderfoundation.com/   

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