Nieves introduced culture to Paez's life, prompting him to learn other languages and supporting theater and painting.
The British diplomat Robert Ker Porter was a frequent visitor of La Viñeta, where the family resided.
In his diary, he speaks of the house meetings, with music and where the daughters danced for visitors.
Nieves sickened in a critical moment for Páez, who had distanced himself from then President José Tadeo Monagas and was getting ready to confront him.
Her death dramatically affected Páez, who referred to "the emptiness that her eternal absence has left" in a letter to his friend Carlos Arvelo.