Florentina "Nellie" Cortez 72 of Abilene passed away Monday May 2 2011. Visitation will be from 5-6 p.m. Sunday with Rosary at 6:00 at North's Memorial Chapel 242 Orange Street. Services will be 1:30 p.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Monsignor Robert Bush officiating. Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery in Winters Texas under the direction of North's Funeral Home. Nellie was born June 20 1938 in Hondo Texas to Miguel and Teodora Aguilar. She married Ray Cortez on August 3 1958 in Winters Texas. She was a longtime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Abilene where she served as a Eucharistic Minister. She was also a member of the Legion of Mary Cursillista Women of Sacred Heart and a Lady of Knights of Columbus. She participated in the construction of the Adoration Chapel of Sacred Heart. She was a retired cosmetologist serving many long-term clients in her home-based salon Chestnut Beauty Corner. She pursued her passion of dancing with her husband. She was a devoted wife mother and grandmother. Nellie was preceded in death by her parents and a sister Benina Arredondo. She is survived by her husband Ray; sons: Daniel Ray Joseph and Mark of Abilene; John of Oklahoma City Oklahoma David of Rio Rancho New Mexico; a daughter Ana Watson of Abilene; siblings: Dominga Cortez of Elizabeth City North Carolina Josie Lugo of Winters Randy Mascoro of Rowena Janie Garza of Abilene Ana Puentes of Stockton California Frances Lewis of Pinkerington Ohio and Don Aguilar of Baytown; 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Online condolences can be made at www.northsfuneralhome.com