Obituary for Benita Yolanda Campos (Perez)
Benita Yolanda (Perez) Campos was born in Bejucal, Cuba to the late Maria Alicia Fernandes and Juan Perez Santana. Described as a quiet child who liked music, art, and drawing, Benita or “Nita” to many, became the life of the party – always bringing laughter, surprise, and fun through her cheeky sense of humor, even in her last days.
Benita grew up in Bejucal with her four siblings, since predeceased; José Antonio Fernadez, Manuela Perez, and twins Gloria Romero and Juan Perez. Her childhood family friend, Armando “Armandito” Campos courted her with chaperoned movie dates and promenades in the park. They married in 1948 and enjoyed 50 years of dining and dancing, fancying the Havana night clubs of the 1950s and frequenting just about any social gathering until his passing in 1999.
After the Cuban Revolution, Benita and Armando made the difficult decision to immigrate to the United States in 1962 with their two young girls, Evy (12), and Lina (3). A year later their son, Armando Jr., was born. Together, they rebuilt their lives bit by bit – learning English, moving around for any job opportunity, and connecting with other family members who emigrated from Cuba to pool resources and create home and community. Formerly an accountant in Cuba, Armando Sr. worked as a janitor until he could retrain in the United States, while Benita worked overnight shifts. Eventually, they settled into their careers (Armando Sr. as an accountant in Boston, and Benita as a manufacturing supervisor), and home in Waltham, Massachusetts in 1974, where Benita lived for 46 years.
Benita took pride in her home, earning the nickname “Hotel Benita”, as she let anyone and everyone live with her if they needed a place. On any given day, Benita could be found gardening, sweeping, and painting – yes, even the garage floor. The home was complete with memories too many to list, but often accompanied by the buzz of Univision playing on the television or lively Cuban music, and the fragrance of black beans and rice.
To her nine grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren, she was lovingly called “Grandma Nita”, a name that extended through their friends, and even friends of friends. Grandma Nita brought her love for music, dance, and humor everywhere she went. She shimmied her shoulders and hips at any beat – her spirit difficult to miss even by strangers. In her final years, she moved to Cornerstone at Canton, partaking in just about every activity, taking up her childhood hobbies of art and drums, and always dancing and joking. They loved their “little Cuban spitfire” and she loved them endlessly. We are forever grateful for them.
Benita is survived by her loving and devoted daughters: Lina Maria (Campos) Balian Petluck and her husband Steve Petluck of Stoughton, Massachusetts, and Evy (Campos) Brink and her husband Gordon Brink of San Antonio, TX. She was the loving mother of the late Armando Campos Jr. Benita adored her nine grandchildren: Erica Brink, Bobby Brink, Janet (Balian) Flaherty and husband Justin Flaherty, Lara Balian and husband Marcus Mann, Stephanie (Campos) Melbourne and husband Nate "Pepe" Melbourne, Ashley (Campos) Spencer and husband Robert Spencer, Daniel J. Balian and wife Kelly Camuso Balian, Jacqueline Campos and fiancé Kevin Aloisi, and Michael Campos, and twelve great grandchildren: JJ (12), Jackson (9), Emerson (7), Maya Nita (7), Lincoln (6), Juliana (5), Liv (4), Nora (3), Vince (2), Grant (11 months), Jack (4 months), and Dottie (2 months). She is also survived by her nieces, Angelina Marimon and Alicia Brown, as well as many other loving nieces and nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends.
Family and friends are invited to gather and remember Benita on Friday, May 12th in the Mary Catherine Chapel of Brasco and Sons Memorial Chapels, located at 773 Moody Street Waltham, MA. with a visitation from 4 pm – 6 pm. Followed by a celebration of her life beginning at 6 pm. Parking Attendants will be available.
Bright colors and/or floral attire strongly encouraged. For those who wish to pay their final respects, but are unable to attend, please be sure to sign the guestbook at www.BrascoFuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Lung Association or the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
" Creating Meaningful Memories"
" Brasco and Sons Memorial"
Benita grew up in Bejucal with her four siblings, since predeceased; José Antonio Fernadez, Manuela Perez, and twins Gloria Romero and Juan Perez. Her childhood family friend, Armando “Armandito” Campos courted her with chaperoned movie dates and promenades in the park. They married in 1948 and enjoyed 50 years of dining and dancing, fancying the Havana night clubs of the 1950s and frequenting just about any social gathering until his passing in 1999.
After the Cuban Revolution, Benita and Armando made the difficult decision to immigrate to the United States in 1962 with their two young girls, Evy (12), and Lina (3). A year later their son, Armando Jr., was born. Together, they rebuilt their lives bit by bit – learning English, moving around for any job opportunity, and connecting with other family members who emigrated from Cuba to pool resources and create home and community. Formerly an accountant in Cuba, Armando Sr. worked as a janitor until he could retrain in the United States, while Benita worked overnight shifts. Eventually, they settled into their careers (Armando Sr. as an accountant in Boston, and Benita as a manufacturing supervisor), and home in Waltham, Massachusetts in 1974, where Benita lived for 46 years.
Benita took pride in her home, earning the nickname “Hotel Benita”, as she let anyone and everyone live with her if they needed a place. On any given day, Benita could be found gardening, sweeping, and painting – yes, even the garage floor. The home was complete with memories too many to list, but often accompanied by the buzz of Univision playing on the television or lively Cuban music, and the fragrance of black beans and rice.
To her nine grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren, she was lovingly called “Grandma Nita”, a name that extended through their friends, and even friends of friends. Grandma Nita brought her love for music, dance, and humor everywhere she went. She shimmied her shoulders and hips at any beat – her spirit difficult to miss even by strangers. In her final years, she moved to Cornerstone at Canton, partaking in just about every activity, taking up her childhood hobbies of art and drums, and always dancing and joking. They loved their “little Cuban spitfire” and she loved them endlessly. We are forever grateful for them.
Benita is survived by her loving and devoted daughters: Lina Maria (Campos) Balian Petluck and her husband Steve Petluck of Stoughton, Massachusetts, and Evy (Campos) Brink and her husband Gordon Brink of San Antonio, TX. She was the loving mother of the late Armando Campos Jr. Benita adored her nine grandchildren: Erica Brink, Bobby Brink, Janet (Balian) Flaherty and husband Justin Flaherty, Lara Balian and husband Marcus Mann, Stephanie (Campos) Melbourne and husband Nate "Pepe" Melbourne, Ashley (Campos) Spencer and husband Robert Spencer, Daniel J. Balian and wife Kelly Camuso Balian, Jacqueline Campos and fiancé Kevin Aloisi, and Michael Campos, and twelve great grandchildren: JJ (12), Jackson (9), Emerson (7), Maya Nita (7), Lincoln (6), Juliana (5), Liv (4), Nora (3), Vince (2), Grant (11 months), Jack (4 months), and Dottie (2 months). She is also survived by her nieces, Angelina Marimon and Alicia Brown, as well as many other loving nieces and nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends.
Family and friends are invited to gather and remember Benita on Friday, May 12th in the Mary Catherine Chapel of Brasco and Sons Memorial Chapels, located at 773 Moody Street Waltham, MA. with a visitation from 4 pm – 6 pm. Followed by a celebration of her life beginning at 6 pm. Parking Attendants will be available.
Bright colors and/or floral attire strongly encouraged. For those who wish to pay their final respects, but are unable to attend, please be sure to sign the guestbook at www.BrascoFuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Lung Association or the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
" Creating Meaningful Memories"
" Brasco and Sons Memorial"