Yelitza I Boatman
April 1, 1929 — December 19, 2022
Yelitza (Bela) Isabel Boatman (nee Guillan), 93, of Jacksonville, FL, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her dear family on December 19, 2022.
Bela was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico on April 1, 1929, to Maria Luisa Guillan (nee Birriel) and Jose Ramon Guillan (nee Urdaz). She was the second daughter and middle child of three children. While the young family would occasionally move for the sugarcane industry, she always considered Arecibo her childhood home. She was a graduate of Colegio San Felipe and went on to study at College of William and Mary in Virginia. During this time, she met her future husband, Edward James Boatman, a naval officer, and student at Old Dominion. Thus, Bela and the family experienced a military life. Ed continued his career as a pilot until his retirement as a Commander in 1965. While moving regularly across the US, the family continued to grow until the eighth and last child was born in Puerto Rico following Ed's retirement.
Yelitza was a wonderful mother and homemaker with seemingly boundless energy. The dinner menu was always varied and delicious - reflecting her passion for cooking and baking. She was proud of the fact that her entire family would sit down together for dinner every day. Conversation was encouraged and, at times, quite spirited.
Her home was always clean, organized, and stylish from one end to the other. Moving? No problem! She would have the furniture in place and pictures hung within 24 hours of relocating to yet another house in another state. Perhaps in another era she would have had quite a career outside of the home.
Her two-year job at Ivy's department store proved, surprisingly to Bela only, that she could manage a cash register and the rigors of meeting monthly sales goals. She regularly achieved salesperson of the month.
Throughout her life, she was immensely proud of her family - always striving to provide love, support and comfort to her husband and children. She often emphasized that she had the most fun when she was with her family. In her later years, after Ed's passing, she remained active, read passionately (crime novels, history, and politics), loved the family pets, and always contributed to lively conversation.
She enjoyed traveling to visit her children and grandchildren with whom she had unique and close relationships. Bela also had a wicked sense of humor and loved to laugh; she was thrilled to partake in the family "ugly gift" white elephant exchange at Christmas. And, oh my, did she love to shop!
In recent years, Bela resided at Camellia at Deerwood in Jacksonville. Thank you to all the staff who helped her in any way. Over the years, she loved many dear friends and the community at Camellia. Finally, thank you to the Mayo and Hospice caregivers who helped Bela and the family in her last days.
Bela was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Silda M. Meyer, her brother, Jesus Manuel, her husband of 51 years, Edward James Boatman, and their son, Michael James Boatman.
She is survived by her children, Jose (Susan) Boatman, Edward (Maria Paula) Boatman, Katherine (Tim) Conlon, Mary Sims, Lisa (Randy) Ewers, Jean (Ronnie) Boatman-Wagoner, Sissie Boatman-Guillan and daughter-in-law, Maritza (Michael) Boatman, 18 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 23 family pets.
She will be so greatly missed.
Services will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Humane Society:
Online - The Humane Society of the United States Mail a personal check or money order made payable to the HSUS to: The Humane Society of the United States 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 450 Washington, DC 20037
Bela was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico on April 1, 1929, to Maria Luisa Guillan (nee Birriel) and Jose Ramon Guillan (nee Urdaz). She was the second daughter and middle child of three children. While the young family would occasionally move for the sugarcane industry, she always considered Arecibo her childhood home. She was a graduate of Colegio San Felipe and went on to study at College of William and Mary in Virginia. During this time, she met her future husband, Edward James Boatman, a naval officer, and student at Old Dominion. Thus, Bela and the family experienced a military life. Ed continued his career as a pilot until his retirement as a Commander in 1965. While moving regularly across the US, the family continued to grow until the eighth and last child was born in Puerto Rico following Ed's retirement.
Yelitza was a wonderful mother and homemaker with seemingly boundless energy. The dinner menu was always varied and delicious - reflecting her passion for cooking and baking. She was proud of the fact that her entire family would sit down together for dinner every day. Conversation was encouraged and, at times, quite spirited.
Her home was always clean, organized, and stylish from one end to the other. Moving? No problem! She would have the furniture in place and pictures hung within 24 hours of relocating to yet another house in another state. Perhaps in another era she would have had quite a career outside of the home.
Her two-year job at Ivy's department store proved, surprisingly to Bela only, that she could manage a cash register and the rigors of meeting monthly sales goals. She regularly achieved salesperson of the month.
Throughout her life, she was immensely proud of her family - always striving to provide love, support and comfort to her husband and children. She often emphasized that she had the most fun when she was with her family. In her later years, after Ed's passing, she remained active, read passionately (crime novels, history, and politics), loved the family pets, and always contributed to lively conversation.
She enjoyed traveling to visit her children and grandchildren with whom she had unique and close relationships. Bela also had a wicked sense of humor and loved to laugh; she was thrilled to partake in the family "ugly gift" white elephant exchange at Christmas. And, oh my, did she love to shop!
In recent years, Bela resided at Camellia at Deerwood in Jacksonville. Thank you to all the staff who helped her in any way. Over the years, she loved many dear friends and the community at Camellia. Finally, thank you to the Mayo and Hospice caregivers who helped Bela and the family in her last days.
Bela was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Silda M. Meyer, her brother, Jesus Manuel, her husband of 51 years, Edward James Boatman, and their son, Michael James Boatman.
She is survived by her children, Jose (Susan) Boatman, Edward (Maria Paula) Boatman, Katherine (Tim) Conlon, Mary Sims, Lisa (Randy) Ewers, Jean (Ronnie) Boatman-Wagoner, Sissie Boatman-Guillan and daughter-in-law, Maritza (Michael) Boatman, 18 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 23 family pets.
She will be so greatly missed.
Services will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Humane Society:
Online - The Humane Society of the United States Mail a personal check or money order made payable to the HSUS to: The Humane Society of the United States 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 450 Washington, DC 20037
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