Pilar Colomina

Pilar was born in 1927 in Camaguey Cuba. She was the daughter of a Spaniard who had emigrated to Cuba as a young man who worked as a salesman, and a strict, good Cuban mother, housewife. She studied pedagogy and earned a doctorate in education, though she humbly never flaunted that whatsoever. She taught in Cuba for several years, including tutoring the then Cuban president's son, and immigrated here to the United States in 1963 with her husband Rodolfo, and Veronica, and with Eric on the way. With only the clothes on her back, and not knowing the language, she eventually was able to become a certified elementary teacher, and she taught primarily kindergarten to the poor and disenfranchised, in the inner city of Wilmington, Delaware for 30 years. She was an excellent teacher, and the little children loved her, and they loved her songs/jingles. She had many friends and enjoyed coming to Florida for summer vacations, until she was able to retire in 1987 and move to Florida permanently in 1988.  She cooked and cleaned and ran errands and worked tirelessly for her family, every day, without fail. She was the best, loving mother to her children. She never stopped trying to help them and never stopped praying for them. She made sure all three of them went to Catholic school, grades 1 through 12, in spite of the family's limited means, and always struggled to live frugally and selflessly with what money was left over.  She was a daily Mass attendee, and was part of a charismatic prayer group for many years, as well as being part of La Legion de Maria. Pilar was always optimistic. She was always positive and never was negative, fearful or pessimistic. She worked very hard all her life, and did her duty and beyond for her children and others with great and constant and simple love. May her reward be great in heaven!

Her daughter, Veronica, is an accomplished business executive. She has a master's from Harvard. However, she retired years ago, quite young, and devoted her time to real estate and Cuba mission trips. She has been a VERY loving daughter and has truly given her heart to loving her mother through time spent with her as well as continual thoughtful gifts and amazing gestures of love.

Her son, Eric, has spent the last 12 years caring for his mother. He and his most loving and selfless friend, Ed Dyer, have been with her through thick and thin, helping her with ALL her needs as she little by little became more and more less independent. He has been extremely responsible with her, tending to her needs and loving her concretely to the end.

Rudy, a teacher and dad, is glad that he was able to give his mother 7 devoted grandchildren, Jose Alexis, Teocali Maria, Christina Maria, Mary Maria, Francis Michael, Theresa Maria and Hannah Maria, whom she loved and enjoyed watching grow up for these past 24 years, as well as a loving daughter-in-law, Aholibama, and great granddaughter, Aria Verena, both of whom she also loved very much. Thankfully, all of the family has lived close to each other for the last 12 years and were always together with Pilar for family events and holidays. That made Pilar happy, and certainly it continues to do so as she sees that all the family continue to love each other and stay connected. And God willing, the family will continue to stay all connected with Pilar and her new name in the communion of saints!