Nilda Salas passed away peacefully on May 30, 2023 in Ocala, Florida. She was 97 years old, having celebrated her birthday with family and friends on Mother's Day. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend who enjoyed the company of family and stayed in close touch with everyone through her travels and letters.

Nilda was born on May 14, 1926 in Guánica, Puerto Rico. After completing her academic studies at Perry Colegio de Damas in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Nilda attended nursing school at Hospital Trioche in Ponce, followed by an internship at Aguirre Hospital near Salinas and a practicum in operating room nursing at Hospital Dr. Cayetano in Arecibo. Nilda returned to Ponce where she worked as a private nurse until her marriage to Ramón Salas Martinez on October 28, 1945.

In 1945, Nilda and Ramón moved to New York City, where she continued her nursing career and gave birth to five of her seven children. In 1959, the Salas family moved to Miami, Florida. There, Nilda resumed her nursing and gave birth to her two youngest children. Nilda and Ramón returned to Puerto Rico in 1971 where she worked at Hospital San Miguel in Utuado as an operating room nurse. After Ramón Salas died in 1982, Nilda moved to Quantico and then Alexandria, Virginia. She helped to care for her eldest grandson, Philip Salas, and worked as a hospital volunteer supporting and caring for new mothers. Nilda returned to Florida in 2004 where she lived in The Villages until moving to Ocala in 2011.

Nilda is predeceased by her husband, Ramón, son Alfred Salas, sister Rebecca Martinez and brother Abimael Martinez, Sr. She is survived by her brother, Harry Nuñez of Ponce, PR; her children and their spouses: Major Ray Salas, Jr. USMC Ret. and Maggie Cronin, Evelyn and Steve Janson, Sylvia Salas and Gerard Hanna, Yolanda Salas and Mark McRorie, and Miguel Salas, all of Florida, and Teri Salas Carr and Robert J. Carr, of Fredericksburg, VA. She also is survived by her grandson Philip C. Salas and great granddaughter Isabella of Charleston, SC, grandson Luke Salas Hanna and wife Jennifer Hill and grandson Andres R. Carr of NYC and Eli R. Carr of Norfolk, VA, as well as dear friend Telma Ortiz of Ocala, FL, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Nilda will be interred at the Bushnell National Cemetery in Florida. Remembrances may be posted to Baldwin Brothers Funeral and Cremation Society in Ocala. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity in memory of Nilda. A memorial service will be held later this summer at Bushnell National Cemetery.