Maria Inés “Perla” Zaldívar Wilhelm, 97, affectionately known as “Mima,” died on April 1, 2026. She faced her final days with the same integrity and wit that defined her life. Born in Mendoza, Argentina, on Dec. 21, 1928, her resilience was forged early. When she was 4, her father, Alphonso Pignatelli, died in a racing accident; that same year, her brother died from the flu. Her mother, “Mela,” raised her alone, teaching typing to support them. Despite financial struggles, they kept a home in Mendoza and a summer house in Lunlunta. Perla often walked from Lunlunta to Luján to buy poetry and novels, sparking lifelong passions for reading and walking.
In 1953, she married Dr. Raúl Zaldívar. They immigrated to the U.S. for professional opportunities, eventually moving to Oak Park in 1965. She possessed a model-like beauty and a sharp, self-deprecating humor regarding her transition to American culture. After Raúl’s death in 1983, she found a second chapter in 1987, marrying Rudy Wilhelm. They moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1995, where she was a welcoming hostess, maintaining a nearby apartment to house visiting grandchildren.
She was the bridge to her Argentine roots, ensuring her family maintained close bonds with their cousins abroad. She had the rare gift of making each of her five children believe they were her favorite. While generous to others, she remained thrifty with herself — a trait born of her early years. She was famous for her “clever sayings” —Argentine idioms from her youth that she preserved for decades.
Perla is survived by her children, Maria Inez (Bill Kavanagh), Maria Lynn (Vince), Raúl (Cathy), Daniel (Iris Carolina), and Peter (Jean); her stepchildren, Cathy and Mark; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren, including her newest, Marcus Daniel. She is mourned by her relatives in Mendoza and her closest friend of 90 years, Alicia Mayorga. Her childhood was enriched by these lifelong relationships, which she cherished until the end.