Obituary of Fanny Elena Torres
Fanny Elena Torres passed away peacefully in Dover, NJ on January 21, 2019, surrounded by her loved ones. She was 88 years old.
The daughter of her late parents, Martin and Libia Guaranda, she was born on August 13, 1930, in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She met and fell in love with the love of her life Geronimo Torres, the boy who lived next door to her childhood home, and they were married in the late 1940s.
Fanny Elena immigrated to the United States from Ecuador in 1970 with her husband and three children. She lived in New York City before settling in New Jersey for many years. She was a constant source of support for her family and to all that loved her. She always worked hard to provide for her family to make sure they had everything they needed.
Family and tradition were some of the most important things in Fanny’s life, she was fiercely loyal and devoted to them until the very end. She loved to sing, attend church, and, with a wonderful sense of humor, always found a way to make people laugh. She was her happiest when cooking and caring for the needs of her family. She always had a delicious home cooked meal prepared, and was always willing to make something else if you so desired, especially for her grandchildren. Fanny loved Jesus above all and was constantly praying for the health and safety of all she held dear. Often, she even prayed for people she had just met and barely knew, simply knowing they might be in need.
Fanny Elena was described as her family’s biggest cheerleader. She celebrated even the smallest victories and was always proud of her family’s accomplishments. She was a sister, a wife, but above all a mother. Known to her family affectionately as “Mami Nini”, she cared for her children lovingly and extended that to her six grandchildren. She treated them as if they were her very own and made it a priority to stay involved in every one of her loved one's lives. She never missed a birthday, always lent an ear to listen, and never left a plate in front of someone empty.
She always had a smile on her face even when she was in pain. She radiated love to all around her and is described by her family as the most selfless person they knew. She was predeceased by her husband Geronimo Torres in August 2016, her parents Martin and Libia in the late 1980s, and her brother Vicente in 2014.
Fanny Elena is survived by her big and loving family. Her children Virginia, Washington, and Maritza, daughter in law Wanda and son in law Jimmy.
She will be survived by her granddaughters, Elena, Natalia, Christine, Meagan, Nicole, Caitlin, and their respective partners.
She is also survived by her brothers Bolivar Guaranda and Alberto Guaranda, and 11 nephews and nieces.
Fanny Elena will be immensely missed by her family and she will never be forgotten.
Public Visitation will be held on Monday, January 28th from 7 - 9 pm at Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Ave., Denville. Funeral Service will take place on Tuesday, January 29th at 11 am at the Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Locust Hill Cemetery, Dover. Please leave a condolence, light a candle, and share your favorite memory of Mami Nini for her family.
