Raquel Sastre

SASTRE, RAQUEL (SERRA), passed away peacefully on July 26, 2009. She was born on February 3, 1915 in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba. She was the loving and devoted wife of legendary banker, Aristides R. Sastre of Republic National Bank. They moved from Havana, Cuba in 1961 to New York and in 1964, they moved to Coral Gables. Raquel was always at the side of her husband as partner and friend. They were married for 58 years when he passed away in 1999. They traveled the world together, most times taking their grandchildren with them. Raquel was loved by many people in South Florida and in her native Cuba where she was so generous with gifts of all kinds to people in need. One could always find her knitting a baby blanket for a new family arrival or for a friend. She treated everyone as equals and was an exemplary role model of a woman, wife and mother, mother- in-law, and grandmother to her family. She was the matriarch of the entire Serra and Sastre families. She is survived by her children, Elena Rosa Sastre Lancet and her son-in-law Fred Lancet, Gladys Raquel Sastre Lowry and son-in- law Joseph Lowry, son Aristides J. Sastre and daughter-in-law, Kelly Altosino-Sastre. Abuela, Abuelita, Tita will be dearly missed by her grandchildren, Dr. Fred Lancet and his wife Lily, Lynn Elena Lancet Miranda and her husband Fernando, John Lancet and his wife Gina, Gladys Raquel Lowry Waters and her husband Paul, Joe Lowry, Jr. and his wife, Lacy, Christopher Lowry, Dr. Aristides A. Sastre and his wife Gia, Cameron Sastre and his wife Lauren, and Stacci Sastre- Reed and her husband JR. Great-grandchildren include, Jennifer and Stephanie Lancet, Vanessa Miranda-Rueda and her husband Mike. Christina, Michael and Kayla Miranda, Jacquelyn and Madelyn Lancet, Nicole, Michelle, Tyson and Blaine Waters, Joseph and Millie Lowry and Aristides Joseph Sastre. Sister to Elsa Serra, Jose Serra and her sister-in-law Amparo, Eduardo Serra and sister-in-law Fany, Sister-in-law to Milagros Sastre, and beloved Tia and Madrina to many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and nephews. In the many years leading up to her passing she had very special companions who assisted her at her home. With gratitude we thank Rosa Tejeda, and with special affection to Juana Padron who has been with the family for 14 years as caregiver and friend to both Raquel and Aristides. The family asks that you please do not send flowers, but please make a donation to the Multiple Sclerosis Society which was her favorite charity or you are asked to make a donation to your favorite charity in her honor. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009 at The Coral Gables Congregational Church, 3010 De Soto Blvd., Coral Gables at 1:00 p.m. There will be no visitation, only the church service, as she had requested. Stanfill Funeral Home 10545 S Dixie (305)667-2518 Family Owned/Operated www.stanfillfh.com To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.MiamiHerald.com/obituaries.