Peregrina Mayans, a devoted mother, grandmother and guiding light to her family, passed away peacefully at home in Little Silver Dec. 17, 2025, at the age of 101.
“Abi,” as she was affectionately called by her grandchildren and neighbors, was born in 1924 in the rural village of Vilardante, located outside the city of Noya, in Galicia, Spain. One of seven children of Celestino Bermudez and Pilar Nimo, Abi eventually immigrated to Havana, Cuba, where she married Miguel Roig, a fellow Spanish immigrant who had arrived decades earlier. The two had a son, whom they named Miguel after his father.
Following the takeover of the island by the Castro regime, the family decided to leave Cuba. Sadly, before leaving for the United States, Abi’s husband passed away at the age of 59.
Abi and her son first settled in the town of West New York in Hudson County with her new husband and fellow Spaniard, Francisco Mayans, in 1970. Following Francisco’s passing in 1981, Abi and Miguel moved to nearby Union City. Miguel married Maryellen Reardon and, two years after the birth of her grandson, Michael John, Abi joined the family when they moved to Rumson in 1991. Three years later, they welcomed Elena Graham, her granddaughter.
Abi’s grandchildren were the joy of her life and she was absolutely devoted to them. She gave of herself selflessly, offering not only gentle care and guidance, but a steady nurturing presence that brought them comfort, security and, above all, unconditional love. Her legacy lives on in the values she instilled in them and in the deep bond she shared with them.
In addition to Miguel, Maryellen, Michael and Elena, Abi is survived by her younger sister, Aurora Bermudez, of A Coruña, Spain, and by several nephews and nieces living across Spain.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Dec. 22, 2025, at St. Anthony of Padua in Red Bank. Burial followed at Weehawken Cemetery in North Bergen.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Peregrina’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org.
Thompson Memorial Home of Red Bank was entrusted with the arrangements.
The article originally appeared in the January 1 – 7, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
