Mariam Patricia Vidal

Mariam Patricia Vidal (nee Ortiz), age 64, of Clifton passed away peacefully on Friday April 12, 2019 after a courageous battle with cancer and while receiving the loving care of her family.

Mariam was born and raised in Callao, Peru and was one of seven children to Arturo and Amelia Ortiz.  For as long as she could remember, Mariam’s lifelong dream was to start a family of her own.  In 1973, her dream came true when she married her husband Gonzalo Vidal and immigrated to the United States of America.  Upon arriving in the United States, Mariam and Gonzalo settled in New York City where they lived for about two years.  During that time, Mariam was dedicated and supportive of her husband while he was still attending college here in the US.  During their time living in New York City, the couple welcomed their first child, Kenneth.  When Mariam’s husband was offered employment in Illinois, the family relocated to Peoria, IL.  Mariam and Gonzalo lived there for the next ten years and welcomed the birth of their next two daughters, Jeannette and Michelle.

Gonzalo and Mariam chose to relocate to be closer to family and settled in Linden, NJ.  They lived there for ten years before moving to Clifton in 1995.  The couple remained in Clifton ever since.  For the first fourteen years of their marriage, Mariam devoted herself to caring and nurturing her children and her husband.  Then, over a period of a couple of years, Mariam's entrepreneurial spirit led her to start her own company, Vidal Travel, Inc. in 1987.  Mariam had an outstanding work ethic, a talent for sales, and she was quite a natural business woman.  She applied the extreme dedication and devotion as a homemaker to her business, and it flourished.  In 1991 her husband Gonzalo joined her at Vidal Travel and they worked together for almost twenty eight years.  Being the owners of a Travel Agency, Mariam and Gonzalo got to travel throughout most of the world.  During many of their trips, they were accompanied by travel business associates, who later became some of their closest friends.  There were not many places that Mariam had not been to.  Some of her favorite destinations included India and Russia, and a most memorable trip with friends and family to Punta Cana shortly after Mariam was diagnosed with cancer.

By far, the most important thing and Mariam’s greatest passion was her family.  Nothing meant more to Mariam than providing for, and spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren, and her brothers, and sister.  Over the years Mariam sponsored all of her brothers and sisters to immigrate to the United States.  When they arrived she provided housing for them in her own home.  Mariam was a strong woman, compassionate and loving.  Mariam was a beacon of strength that radiated warmth. Those closest to her, were privileged to also know how generous and playful she was. Mariam touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by all who knew her.

Mariam is survived by her husband Gonzalo Vidal of Clifton, one son Kenneth Vidal and his wife Heather of Budd Lake, two daughters; Jeannette Vidal-Murtha and her husband Daniel of Glen Ridge, and Michelle Vidal of New York City, NY, six grandchildren; Aidan, Ava, Julian, Vivian, Tedric, and Sadie, one sister Nancy Ortiz of Passaic, and two brothers; Jesus Ortiz, and Manuel Ortiz.  She was predeceased by her three brothers; Walter Ortiz, Levi Ortiz, and Ronnie Ortiz.