Born in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico to Josefina Vazquez and Concepcion Malpica, Nereida came to Chicago in 1960.  Her parents settled in the West Town neighborhood, where she went to school and learned to speak English. After she had her son, Carlos, she went to work for the Steward Warner Corporation, located on the Diversey Parkway. A popular manufacturing company with over 6,000 employees, Nereida quickly rose to the top and became the first Latina Foreman. She supervised over 40 people and proudly helped open and train employees at Steward Warner's first office in Mexico.  

In 1992, Nereida found herself volunteering and working as an Aide to then Alderman Luis V. Gutierrez of the 26th Ward.  She helped handle the front office and assisted in city service requests.  In 1993, she began to work for Alderman Billy Ocasio as his Senior Advisor once Luis V. Guitterez was elected to Congress.  This is where Nereida became a staple in the community.  She started working closely with the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, Casa Puertorriquena, Toys for Tots, the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, and local businesses.  She helped organize and coordinate Division Street's first Puerto Rican Festival, Humboldt Park's first Marathon, Three Kings Day, Haunted Paseo, and many more.  Nereida has not stopped and is still a fixture in the Humboldt Park community for her talents, passion, and never-ending love for her Puerto Rican community.   

After working on Iris Y. Martinez’s historic campaign to become the first Latina elected as Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Nereida joined her team in 2022. She currently serves as the Executive Assistant to the Executive Clerk of Facility Management, overseeing operations for three downtown buildings and six court districts.

She is the loving wife to Felix Aviles and mother to Carlos Ayala along with her step daughters Natalie and Annette Aviles.