Guillermo Perez

Rev. Guillermo Perez, age 88, of Daytona Beach, Florida passed to his heavenly home on Friday, January 15, 2021. Guillermo was born February 10, 1932 in Humacao, Puerto Rico to the late Daniel Perez and Juana Delgado. His father died when Guillermo was just a boy and before his teens he began to work to help his mother support his younger siblings.

Guillermo married Filomena Perez on December 28, 1957 in New York City and they were blessed with six children. They served in ministry together for 40 years in the states of New York, New Jersey, and Illinois. They retired to Florida but for many years continued to help in ministry in their local church as well as within the district where ever he was needed.

He was a very charismatic man with a unique sense of humor. He loved to laugh and tell jokes, often enjoying the punch line on his own, breaking down in laughter before finishing the joke. He would tell you the same joke often and his wife would have to help him with the ending as he would change the punch line with each telling. He also loved to sing and was almost always singing to himself (out loud) and if he forgot the lyrics he would make up new lyrics or just hum. His grandchildren enjoyed imitating his humming. He had a great spirit of hospitality and loved to have his family, friends, and church family over, especially at Christmas and New Years. He and his wife were always ready and excited during this season when the carolers from the church made it to their house late in the evening. No one ever left their home hungry. He enjoyed cooking and baking and he was a really great cook, especially for large crowds. He is best known for his rice pudding (arroz con dulce), bread pudding (pudin), and coconut candy (coquito). As you can imagine, in 40 years of ministry, he ministered many families, who today, remember him not just as a pastor, but like part of their own family. He took both roles seriously and often wore the hat of strict disciplinarian and counselor to many a child and teen within his congregation, who have many hilarious stories to share. Outside of preaching the Word of God and his family, another passion and interest of his was construction and remodeling. He caught the bug in the early 70s when he oversaw the construction of the new church building in Vineland, NJ. He then began to buy houses, fix them up and re-selling them. He not only enjoyed it, he also saw it as wise investments.

Guillermo is survived by his beloved children; William (Eileen) Perez, Eliezer (Miriam) Perez, Joseph (Theresa) Perez, Rachel (Hector) Velez, Bernice (Rev. Darrin) Pendley and Merari Perez; brother Vicente Perez of New York; sisters Catalina Vargas, Carolina, PR and Aurea Figueroa, New York, NY; grandchildren, Hector (Kelly) Vazquez Jr, Johanna (Craig) Cavagnaro,) Allison (Joel) Waddell, Felissa (Andy) Metalski-Aguirre, Ezequiel (Erin) Perez, Merari (Xavier) Choice, and Joseph Perez Jr. and great-grandchildren, Aliya Rivera, Desirae Aguirre, Mariah Queen, Jacob Aguirre, Rachel Perez, Annalisa Perez, Sebastian Perez, Layla Perez, Melody Choice, and William Waddell; his much loved brothers and sisters-in-law in PR; many cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was an exemplary and loving father, grandfather, and family patriarch who will be greatly missed.

Guillermo was preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife, Filomena Perez, brother Maximiliano Perez and sister Angelina Rivera; grandson Jonathan Vazquez, and granddaughter Jennifer Rivera.

A Funeral Service for Guillermo will be held Wednesday, January 20, 2021 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal MI, 3225 S Goldenrod Rd, Orlando, FL 32822. A entombment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, FL 34734.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.nationalcremation.com/locations/oviedo for the Perez family.