Who Is Bela?
Germanda Perez
1936 - 2015
Meet Germanda Perez. (Bela)
Germanda, known as Manda to her family and friends, was from Aguada, Puerto Rico. She was the daughter of Alejo Perez and Lucia Rivera and she was one of ten children.
Manda had 6 children of her own. These children went on to make Manda a proud grandmother of 14, great grandmother of 8.
“Abuela” is the Spanish word for grandma. “Bela” is what Manda’s grandchildren called her when they were kids (and even into their adult lives and in her memory) before they properly knew how to say “abuela”.
Bela was one of the sweetest, kindest person you’d ever know. She once let a Hatian man stay with her, giving him work and food at her house in Puerto Rico. She was hard working, raising her six kids on her own in the inner city of Hartford, CT. She did a great job at that. They all turned out to be excellent children and parents themselves. She loved her family – her grandchildren were her delight. She never forgot the childhood friends who were there for her when she needed someone the most. She loved to cook (and she loved to eat) and always had everyone’s stomach in mind.
Our Bela passed away in February of 2015. She continues to be loved, and always will be, by her children, grandchildren, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins, and everyone else her heart touched.
