Manuela A. "Nellie" Morales, 83, passed away Friday, May 31, 2024 after a long illness at her earthly home in East Hartford, CT,  surrounded by family members.  Manuela was born in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico and was raised in Rio Piedras. Manuela met her husband, Juan in Comerio, PR and moved to Hartford to raise their family. A woman of unwavering faith and commitment to her church and her family, Manuela taught herself to read the bible and maintained a daily devotion to the scripture. Manuela never met an animal she did not love and rescued many dogs, cats and other animals. Manuela's home was known in the community as a place where anyone who was hungry or had no where to sleep would be welcomed into her home and provided anything they needed – especially a warm heart and caring shoulder. Manuela loved to cook, dance and sing and had a voice of an angel.  One of her favorite albums was Linda Ronstadt's "Canciones de mi Padre"("Songs of my Father") and she knew every word by heart. She loved singing those songs when she traveled to be with family in Rhode Island, commenting all along the way about the beautiful flowers and views of the ocean.

Manuela is survived by five sons, Angel and husband Tim Blevins, Gilberto, Reynaldo, Armando and Rafael and one daughter, Lourdes.  She is also survived by three grandchildren, Jason and his wife Govianna, Andrew and his wife Rachel and Ileana, eight great grandchildren, a sister, Emily Betancourt and numerous nieces and nephews.   Manuela was predeceased by her husband, Juan, Sr., a son, Juan, Jr. and a daughter-in-law, Iris Morales.

Funeral service for Manuela will be held at 11 am on Friday, June 7, 2024 at Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home, 1276 Berlin Turnpike, Wethersfield, CT. Burial will be in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield, CT.  Relatives and friends may call at the Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home, Thursday, June 6 between 5 and 8 pm. To share a memory of Manuela, please visit www.dillon-baxter.com