Ivette Del Carmen Marrero Matos, 59, died peacefully at Duke Hospital on Saturday, June 30th, 2018 after years of bravely surviving and fighting against cancer. Born July 6th, 1958 in Coamo, Puerto Rico, she lived her early years in Puerto Rico, where she graduated from the University of Puerto Rico and began her professional life as a medical technologist.
In 1983, she became a mother for the first time, and then for a second time in 1989. In 1993, she moved to Durham and began another chapter in her adult life as an employee for UNC Hospitals, where she would gracefully spend her next 25 years.
In April 2002, she married José Antonio Nava León, with whom she spent the most meaningful years of her life. Together, she dedicated herself to provide, support and help her family to follow their dreams of becoming professionals. As a result, her eldest daughter, Michele Marie, became a lawyer, while her second daughter, Stephanie Marie, a doctor of medicine, and her stepdaughter, Alexa Gabriela, a computer engineer. Lastly, she also helped her stepson, Jonathan Iván, graduate high school and start his college years.
She was passionate about music, dancing salsa, cultivating roses, the beach, and being the most supporting friend, sister, and person anyone could have met. A hard working woman, dedicated to helping and caring for all and anyone who would let her, Ivette left a lasting impression in all whom had the pleasure to meet her.
Ivette will be remembered for her charm, energy, passion, care for all others, laughter, and hospitality. We are grateful she fulfilled her long-life dream of becoming an amazing mother, wife, and grandmother, and wise adviser; having spent her last year closely teaching her granddaughter those first lessons of life that will forever remain present and shape the woman that she will grow up to be.
Surviving are her daughters, Michele M. Silva Marrero of Puerto Rico and Stephanie M. Principe Marrero of Durham, her granddaughter, Mikaela I. Baerga Silva of Puerto Rico, and her husband, Jose Antonio Nava Leon; as well as her mother, Neida P. Matos Borges of Durham, her brother, Miguel A. Marrero Matos of Pittsburgh, PA, and her sisters, Maria Milagros Marrero Matos of Sunrise, FL, and Ada Marrero Matos of Green Bay, WI. Ivette will also be forever remembered by numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Miguel Angel Marrero.
Friends may visit 6:00-8:00PM Thursday, July 5th, at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. A Catholic mass will be celebrated at 3:00PM Friday, July 6th, at the Immaculate Conception Church, 810 W. Chapel Hill St., Durham, NC. Her funeral and burial will be in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
Flowers may be sent to Hall Wynne Funeral Service in Durham, NC. Gifts or donations in Ivette’s memory may be made to Pretty In Pink Foundation, Sociedad Americana Contra el Cáncer de Puerto Rico (American Society Against Cancer of Puerto Rico), and Fundación Cabecitas Rapadas (Shaved Heads Foundation – charity for children, adolescents, and some adults with cancer in Puerto Rico). Flowers for burial service may be sent, please contact the family.
Narciza Andrade
July 3, 2018 at 8:40 pmMe uno al dolor de su madre , hijas y esposo ante tan irreparable perdida..Los abrazo a la distancia y me uno en oración por el eterno descanzo de mi querida amiga Ivette Marrero..Que el Señor la reciba en su Gloria Amen..DEP
Antonio
July 5, 2018 at 11:20 pmMuchas gracias por sus condolencias ❤️
Dana Flores
July 3, 2018 at 9:13 pmMay you, my friend, rest in peace. Keeping your family in my prayers.
Antonio
July 5, 2018 at 11:20 pmMuchas gracias por sus condolencias ❤️
Carleane Umpierre
July 4, 2018 at 6:30 amTiti Neida , My condolences to you and your family. We didn’t know each other well but we will always be family. May Ivette Rest In Peace and May the lord ease the pain and suffering of her family.
Antonio
July 5, 2018 at 11:20 pmMuchas gracias por sus condolencias ❤️
Carmen Santos
July 4, 2018 at 7:08 amLamento tan sensible pérdida de un gran ser humano. Espero que Dios le brinde consuelo a su familia y para ella La Paz divina en su presencia. Descansa en Paz Ivette.
ILEANA DIAZ
July 4, 2018 at 9:34 amRIP Ivette, until we meet again! My deepest condolences to the family and I pray each day for the Lord to give them strength and peace to carry on.
Antonio
July 5, 2018 at 11:21 pmMuchas gracias por sus condolencias ❤️
Ada Matos Jimenez
July 4, 2018 at 12:40 pmMy thoughts are with you and family sorry for your loss
Michele
July 10, 2018 at 9:24 pmMuchas gracias por sus condolencias ❤
Eric Matos-Marrero
July 4, 2018 at 1:01 pmDescanza en paz mi querida prima hermana … le agradezco a Dios haberte conocido y el que fueramos familia. Siempre fuistes muy humilde, superinteligentisima, bella y hermosa … gracias por haberme aceptado casi como un hermano tuyo. Siempre fue un honor para mi el tenerte ahi para charlar sobre nuestras raices familiares. No me gusta que esto suene a despedida pues no lo es ya que algun dia nos encontraremos nuevamente en el cielo. Vas a hacernos mucha falta a mucha mucha gente. Se que estas tranquilita disfrutando de la compa;nia de Dios y la Virgen. Te lo mereces. Bastante trabajastes y te esforzastes por darle lo mejor a todo el mundo que se acerco a ti siempre. Le pido a Dios que le de fortaleza a tu esposo Antonio, tu mama mi querida titi Neida, tu hermano, hermanas e hijas queridas por ti. Amen …
Michele
July 10, 2018 at 9:25 pmMuchas gracias por sus condolencias ❤
Deborah Matos
July 4, 2018 at 1:23 pmMy heartfelt condolences. May God bring comfort to your hearts as you celebrate Ivette’s life.
Michele
July 10, 2018 at 9:26 pmMuchas gracias por sus condolencias ❤
Yolanda J.
July 4, 2018 at 3:00 pmMi adorada pecosita bella, te me adelantaste en este viaje… vuela alto hermanita. Fuiste mi apoyo en mayo cuando pensaban que er yo la que me iba. Ya nos enco traremos de nuevo como cuando nos criabamos. Fortaleza y resignacion para todos en la familia.
Michele
July 10, 2018 at 9:27 pmMuchas gracias por sus condolencias ❤
Ron Livingston
July 4, 2018 at 6:11 pmI pray that the Angels surround you and guide you through this time. While she is no longer with us, she left the legacy of her Spirit and Love in all of you to carry forward! We have all been forever touched by her smile, her grace, her humor, but most of all, her heart.
Michele
July 10, 2018 at 9:27 pmMuchas gracias por sus condolencias ❤
Luz Nava
July 4, 2018 at 11:20 pmDeseo que Ivette pueda ser iluminada por la luz del Divino Rostro de Dios y gozar para siempre de las maravillas del Cielo y a su esposo José Antonio y sus hijas y familiares les conceda la fortaleza y la paz.
Recuerdo que tuvimos la oportunidad de conocer a Ivette en una ocasión que ella visitó México, al estar aqui, pudimos ver en ella el carisma y alegría que contagiaban a quien tenía la oportunidad de compartir con ella. Recuerdo que ella nos dijo que se llevaba una parte de México con ella y en verdad fue así pues se llevó también nuestra estima y gratitud por todo cuanto hizo por mi hermano José Antonio.
Desde aquí les enviamos un fuerte abrazo a José Antonio y su familia y nuestras más sinceras condolencias. Ahora tienen un ángel que los acompaña y los cuida desde el cielo.
Familia Juárez Nava
Querétaro, México
Antonio
July 5, 2018 at 11:24 pmGracias por tus palabras . Amen hermana
Jennifer Will
July 5, 2018 at 12:39 pmSo sorry for your loss. May God grant you peace that surpasses understanding.
Miriam Quintero
July 6, 2018 at 9:34 amDescansa en pazcquerida amiga. Mis condolencias para la familia.
Tim Wisner
July 6, 2018 at 3:20 pmI am so very sorry for your loss. I worked with Ivette for approximately 15 years and she was always a joy to be around and always striving to do all that she could to ensure the safety of the lab staff. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Dorimar
July 7, 2018 at 11:41 amHeaven has gained another angel. My condolences to dona Neida, Ada, Miguel, and specially to my childhood sister, Milagros.
Carmen Dávila Salgado
July 7, 2018 at 1:16 pmDescansa en La Paz De Dios. La promesa es que volveremos a vernos. Gracias por estar con todas tus compañeras y amigas del CSR en nuestro 40 aniversario, clase 76.
Dalma Villahermosa
July 7, 2018 at 8:50 pmQue la bendición de Dios y su paz los acompañe a todos en especial a mi amiguita Milagros. Dalma Villahermosa
Luis Angel Ferrao
July 9, 2018 at 10:00 pmMis más sinceras condolencias a la Familia Marrero, al esposo y a sus hijas, por tan sensible pérdida. Recuerdo a Ivette y a su hermana Milagros desde que eran estudiantes en el Colegio Santa Rosa de Bayamón, y ambas sobresalían por su hermosura, inteligencia y por ser emprendedoras. A pasos de allí tenía su padre una relojería, donde lo visité en varias ocasiones. Con su hermano Miguel pasamos largas horas y días en nuestros torneos de ajedrez. Eran una familia ejemplar y su hogar en Río Hondo, Bayamón exhibía las características de unidad familiar que garantizó que todos ellos fueran personas profesionales de gran éxito. Que descanse en Paz junto a nuestro Señor en la Gloria que se merece, y el mayor consuelo para su familia. Luis A. Ferrao
Anna Delmy Vera
July 10, 2018 at 7:24 pmNuestro paso en esta vida es efimero. Lo que perdura para siempre es el legado que dejamos a nuestros seres queridos y a la humanidad. Y tu, Ivette, cumpliste con tu mision de dejar un legado valioso a tu familia y a los que tuvieron la oportunidad de conocerte. Ahora, Dios te concede el descanso eterno. Hasta luego, Ivette.