Compiled and written by David R. Schleper
On July 9, 1955 in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, Julia Perez was born to parents Braulio Perez and Cecilia Lugo-Arocho.
Mayagüez is a city and the eighth-largest municipality in Puerto Rico. It was founded as Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Mayagüez, and is also known as La Sultana del Oeste (The Sultaness of the West), Ciudad de las Aguas Puras (City of Pure Waters), or Ciudad del Mangó (Mango City).
Mayagüez is in the center of the western coast on the island of Puerto Rico. It has a population of 73,077.
Mayagüez lies today on two former Taíno Cacicazgos (chiefdoms). The Taínos constituted the majority of the island’s inhabitants at the time of contact with Europeans in 1493 and called it Borikén or Borinquen. The Taínos came from South American branches of Arawakan speakers, more specifically from modern-day Venezuela, and lived in small villages. They were farmers who domesticated crops as pineapples, cassava, and sweet potatoes supplemented by fish and seafood, according to Wikipedia.
The city has had several natural disasters. It faced a major economic downturn due to the closure of its textile factories and tuna industry, which were the principal industries of the city for the greater part of the 20th century. Over 11,000 permanent jobs in these two industries were lost in the city during the 1990s, and because of this, Mayagüez became the jurisdiction of the United States with the second most industrial job losses during the time, second only to Flint, Michigan. Once the third city in population and importance in Puerto Rico, population numbers for it have been relatively stagnant, and it has lost population.
Julia Perez left Puerto Rico to the United States in the 1970s. On May 27, 1978, at Ascension Church in Minneapolis, she married Michael F. Montiforte, Jr. They were blessed with five children, Michael, Natalia, Bianca, Lydia and Diego and later two grandchildren, Charles and Olivia. Julia Perez-Montiforte lived in Shakopee, where her friends admired her dimples. At the young age of 60, Julia Perez-Montiforte passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, October 14, 2015, with her beloved family surrounding her at the University of Minnesota hospital bedside.
Julia will always be remembered in the hearts of her family as beloved wife, mother, grandmother and sister. Left to honor her life and mourn the death are her children Michael F. Montiforte III, Natalia C. Montiforte, Bianca T. Montiforte, Lydia F. Montiforte, Diego E. Montiforte; grandchildren, Charles P. Stearns, Jr, Olivia S. Demuth. Preceding her in death are her husband Michael F. Montiforte, Jr. and parents Braulio Perez and Cecilia Lugo-Arocho.
According to Nancy Kowal, “Her kids were her world. She always had a smile and we shared a lot of laughs.” Deb Hoffman remembered Julia “for all your lovely bright colors and smiles. I will always remember your brilliant smile it could melt the snow on the worst snowy days. You could always make me feel better when I was down and out with just one of your bear hugs and I was good to go.”
Brian Blair noted “Jules was a wonderful woman who always kept on upbeat attitude despite the many painful struggles she had. I had the privilege of being her friend and boss for the last several years and can say she was one hell of a person and worker who always gave her best.”
“The first thing I think of Jules is her attire,” said Mary Mansur. “No matter how cold it was outside Jules was always in her tank tops with straps fanning herself while the rest of us were in our sweaters and sweatshirts. She always had her work ready for me to pick up when I would roll the cart down the aisle. Sitting behind Cheri knowing the two of them were always up to no good, Cheri mostly, or as Jules would call her ‘Cheryl.’ She will ALWAYS hold a special place in my heart. She talked so loving of her children and grandchildren. She left you all a legacy to carry on.”
Bibliography
“Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayagüez,_Puerto_Rico.