Nelly Machuca

Nelly was born in Boyacá, a mountainous region of east-central Colombia. She grew up on her family finca (farm) tending to the animals and riding horses bareback whenever she could sneak a chance. Nelly was nurturing from childhood and grew up caring for her many siblings. As a young adult, she nannied for many families, ultimately bringing her to the United States.

A hard worker throughout her life, Nelly became a housekeeper in New York City’s Twin Towers in the 80s. In the 90s and early 2000s, Nelly strapped her only daughter, Maria Cristina, to her hip and cleaned apartments in a high-rise building in West New York, NJ. There she worked for famed Sesame Street and Muppets puppeteer Jerry Nelson and his wife Jan Nelson. The Nelsons were the kindest of people, always leaving fresh fruit for Nelly and Maria Cristina to enjoy.

Nelly cared for and loved everyone she met and will be remembered for her kind, gentle, and loving nature. She helped any injured animal that came her way, rescuing neighborhood cats and rehabilitating sick or injured birds. She kept the most beautiful plants and aquariums and made the most delicious soups. Anyone who saw her peel a potato was left in awe of her speed.

Until her diagnosis, she worked an overnight janitorial job in Weehawken, NJ. Every Friday night she would buy a delicious grilled chicken and rice meal from a local restaurant to share with her coworkers.

Though she never formally learned to read or write, over time she acquired enough literacy to give herself and her daughter a fighting chance. She paid for tutors and helped put her daughter through college. She would always tell her daughter: “Échele ganas, Mija” “No te dejes,” and “Te que parar en tus dos propios pies” (“Give it everything you’ve got,” “Don’t give up,” and “You have to be able to stand on your own two feet.”

Nelly and her daughter were the best of friends, sharing tears, but also laughter and adventure.

They traveled to Florida, Maine, Pennsylvania, Colombia and El Salvador.

From the onset of her illness, her husband, Marcos Rene Machuca, cared for her tirelessly. He made sure all her needs were always met and always got her favorite foods, like buffalo chicken wings and Mondongo soup. Throughout their time together, they shared many laughs, fishing adventures, and dances to her favorite cumbias.

In her last years on this planet, she was able to witness her daughter marry Andrew Ames of Danvers, MA. Nelly loved him the moment she met him. She loved cooking for him, crafting with him, and sharing adventures to zoos and farms.

Nelly is survived by her loving daughter, Maria Cristina Machuca Ames and her husband Andrew; her husband, Marcos Rene Machuca. She was lovingly cared for by her daughter’s mother-in-law and godmother-in-law, Pamela E. Ames and Dolores Foley, by the great hospice workers Daisy (CNA), Katrina (RN) and Angela (Social Worker) of Care Dimensions (Danvers, MA), and by Nurse Ana of Amedisys Hospice (New Jersey). She is preceded in death by her mother, Graciliana Rincon Duarte, her mother-in-law, Maria Cristina Arguello, and her loving and loyal cat, Sabrina.

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the loving and caring staff of the Kaplan House in Danvers, MA.

Nelly’s funeral services will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nelly’s memory to Care Dimensions/The Kaplan House, or to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.

To view a memorial slideshow celebrating her life and the many beautiful memories she leaves behind, please click this link.