Blanca Perez

Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Blanca Perez entered her eternal rest on Monday, April 13th after a long illness. Blanca was born in Matanzas, Cuba on August 25th, 1933 to Mariana and Juan Balantine Perez. She lived in her native Cuba until immigrating to the United States in 1968 where she resided in Key West, Florida with her family. Until she retired, Blanca worked in several popular restaurants in Key West as a cook where diners enjoyed her delicious Cuban cuisine. She lived with her late husband, Jose Salgado. They loved socializing with their many friends and enjoyed dancing, boating, and entertaining their friends. Blanca had a life- long love for gardening and was known for her “green thumb.” Her yard was always a tropical paradise which she meticulously cared for daily. Blanca looked forward to visits from her family, cooking the wonderful Cuban dishes loved by all. She was loved by her friends and neighbors and was known for her generosity, acts of kindness, and her sense of humor. She never met a stranger and waited at the gate to greet sanitation workers, mail carriers, and delivery personnel with a cold can of soda on a hot day. Everyone knew Blanca! She was a rock star everywhere that she went. On trips to the market, you had better prepare for a least a two-hour trip while Blanca stopped to talk to the many people who knew her, both other shoppers as well as store employees. She was a Cuban party to go! For the last years of her life, she became a devoted caregiver to her husband. During his illness, her daily routine revolved around his care, attending to him with love and dedication. At her side during this time was her faithful little pug, Pepito. After her husband’s death, Blanca’s health began to decline. She recently relocated to Tallahassee under the care of her family. She died peacefully in her sleep with her family and Pepito by her side. She is survived by her daughter, Magda Caridad Manning, three grandchildren (Brandon Manning, Cameron Manning, Sr. and Mariana Manning), and three great-grandchildren (Leone Manning, Cameron Manning, Jr., and Harmony Manning). She will always be remembered for her sense of humor, her courage, and her joy for life. Till the end, she made us laugh, she made us smile, and she made us feel loved! A private family service will be held and her interment will be at Key West Cemetery, memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice . Todd Wahlquist with Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193, www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the family with their arrangements.

Tributes

Blanca Perez

August 25, 1933 - April 13, 2020