According to Melanie Maldonado, Petronila Brenes was:

Born and raised in Humacao to Hilario Brenes and Cristina Luzunaris (also both from Humacao). She had at least nine children: Juan German (born 1895), Eladio (born 1898), Avelino, (born 1902), Gumersindo (born 1904), Agosto (born 1907), Modesto (born 1909), Corpora (born 1912), Caridad (born 1914), and Socorro (born 1919). ¹