Dr. Francisco Jose Pereira

Dr. Francisco Jose Pereira, age 80, of Houston, TX, and formerly of Murphysboro, IL, passed away at 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 28, 2010, surrounded by his wife and children at his home in Houston, Texas. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 3, 2010, at Pettett Funeral Home with Father Federico Higuera officiating and burial will be at St. Andrew Cemetery in Murphysboro. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family wish that donations be made to the Hispanic Ministry in care of Father Fedrico Higuera % St. Mary's Catholic Church, 402 Freeman Street in Anna, IL 62906. Francisco was born on June 12, 1929, at Leon, Nicaragua, to Ing. Francisco J. Pereira Baldizon and Lidia Salazar Aguado. He was a juris Doctor, graduated at Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Nicaragua with an especialty in International Law. A Board member of the Banco Central de Nicaragua, Assistant Secretary of Economy under the Somoza's Administration in Nicaragua. At the Local and Municipal level he was Secretary of the Municipal Counsel of Leon and was the Vice Chair of Junta Local de Asistencia Social and Secretary of the Junta Nacional de Asistencia Social a national charitable organizations in his native country. He was member of the private industry as owner of several business. He worked for the state of Illinois as Senior Rehabilitation Counselor from the IL Department of Human Services from where he retired in June of 1999. He was a member of the American Radio Relay Leage (ARRL), a Ham Radio Operator, a member of the Knights of Colombus. He married Maria Mercedes Reyes De Pereira on May 24, 1951, in Nicaragua and she preceded him in death on July 27, 1997. Together they have seven children. He married Patricia Murphy from Leon, Nicaragua on March 13 1999, in Houston, Texas, and she survives. Other survivors include his children Veronica and Raul Saborio from Honduras, Francisco y Maria Jose Pereira from Nicaragua, Martin and Marthina Pereira from Springfield, Isis Pereira from Miami, Mariano and Martha Saravia from Houston, Ramon and Gloria Campos from Murphysboro. three step children Dale and Ana Westmoreland from Conrod, Fanor and Veronica Lacayo from Houston and Ron and Mariela Borza from Houston; twentry three grandchildren, Veronica y Fernando Chapellin from Venezuela, Ruth and Eduardo Marin from Nicaragua, Osman and Jan Paola Perez from Honduras, Maria Celia and Raul Saborio Jr form Honduras, Tim and Marilexandra Collier from Ft Myers, Jose and Sandra Garcia from Tallahasee, Erick and Maclovia Barcklay from Miami, Francisco Pereira Jr from Miami, Olga and Gloria Pereira from Springfield, Harold Pereira from CA, Gustavo Abaunza from Jacksonville, Ricardo Abaunza from Anahaim, Ben and Allison Campos from Murphysboro, Ramon and Jennifer Campos from Murphysboro, Diego and Isabela Campos from Murphysboro; fifteen great grandchildren; and one brother Simon Pereira and one sister Olga Pereira de Velazquez, from Nicaragua. He was preceded in death by a son Alberto Pereira and a sister Gloria Pereira de Belli and his parents.

Dr. Francisco Jose Pereira

June 12, 1929 - May 28, 2010