Nelida Viñas Maiorino

Loving Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother
Nelida Vias Maiorino, 90, formerly of Edgewater, passed away on March 30, 2023 in West Deptford.
She is survived by her husband Jose Maiorino, with whom she shared 68 years of marriage; four children, Horacio Maiorino; Pablo Maiorino and his wife Marion; Cesar Maiorino and his wife Mary Connell; and Virginia Maiorino and her husband Eddie Rodriquez; grandchildren Julia, Catie, Alexandra, Ivy, Chelsea and Luka and great grandchildren Keeley, Bianca, Elias and Juniper.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nelida lost her father Manuel at a young age, and was raised by her mother, Manuela. Nely married Jose in Buenos Aires in 1955. As a young mother, speaking no English, she followed Jose to the U.S. in 1964, with her three young sons in tow, and Manuela bringing up the rear. They all settled in Edgewater, NJ, where Virginia was born. Nelida, Jose and the three boys all became U.S. citizens in 1969.
As she raised her children, with help from Manuela, Nelida was also able to work full time, for many years at Miniature Folding Inc. She was a union representative for GCIU Local 119B and despite English being her second language, was a voice for her co-workers, many of whom were also immigrants.
Nelida was fearless and determined in making her familys way in her adopted country. She was a devoted and proud mother, always concerned for the safety, success and happiness of her children, even as they grew up and started their own families.
Among her many talents, Nelida was an excellent cook, and the lunches she packed for her children were the envy of their classmates. She used her skills as a seamstress to make intricate Halloween costumes for her children that were so good that they were passed down to the grandchildren. Her training as a bookkeeper came in handy as she managed the household budget and organized and archived family photos and documents. Nely also loved a bargain, and one of her favorite things was grocery shopping, with marked-up circular and coupons in hand.
Nelida loved animals of all kinds. The house in Edgewater was usually home to several species, including dogs, cats, gerbils, birds, fish, turtles and even an orphaned squirrel. She was the go to person when a neighborhood kid found an injured bird. She also fed and created shelters for the wild animals in the neighborhood. Nelida even went as far as to catch feral cats, have them neutered and then release them, to help keep down the population. Many days would find Nelida sitting on the front porch, watching the animals, and greeting the passing neighbors.
We will miss her.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Nelida's memory to the organizations she believed in:
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
https://secure.aspca.org/donate/ps-memory-sl-p1
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF),
https://help.worldwildlife.org/hc/en-us/articles/360008011353-Memorial-Gifts
Nelida's life will be celebrated in a private service