Maria Castro "Maricusa" Portuondo

1916 - 2017

PORTUONDO, MARIA CASTRO, "Maricusa", born in Cardenas, Cuba, on September 28, 1916 passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on June 29, 2017 at the age of 100. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 61 years Manuel Portuondo and her daughter Maria Ana Portuondo. Maricusa is survived by her children, Betty Garcia-Velez (Carlos), Manuel "Pachy" Portuondo (Jeannette), Ernesto Portuondo (Pilar), Rafael Portuondo (Sylvia), and Fernando Portuondo (Edward Vail); her grandchildren Carlos Garcia-Velez (Kent Davis), Calixto Garcia-Velez (Carmen), Beatriz Garc‚s (Jos‚), Patricia Hanna (Chris), Manuel Portuondo (Gloria), Graziella Martinez (Carlos), Lianne Diaz (Juan Luis), Danielle Portuondo; Ernesto Portuondo (Laurie), Maite Mena, Marianne Puig (Arnaldo), Andres Portuondo, Sylvia Maria Gonzalez (Jorge), Rafael Portuondo (Alexis) and twenty-five great grand-children; her sisters Elena Castro vda. de Rojas, Cristy Wolf vda. de Castro and her many nieces and nephews. Maricusa and Manolo left Cuba in 1960 and settled in Coral Gables. Always a mother first, Maricusa opened her home to numerous nieces, nephews and friends as they arrived from Cuba. She was an example of devotion to family and the Church. Throughout her life, she and Manolo were committed to the development of their parish in Elia, Camagey, Cuba. She was devoted to fund raising for the parish until her final days. She will be greatly missed by family, friends and the many people that she graced with her warmth, love and acceptance. A viewing will be held on Friday, June 30, 2017 at 6:00pm to 9:00pm, at Ferdinand Funeral Homes, located at 2546 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida. A mass for the eternal rest of her soul will be celebrated on Saturday, July 1st 2017 at 11:00am, at Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, located at 9200 SW 107th Ave, Miami, Florida. Followed by a Christian burial at Miami Memorial Park, 6200 SW 77th Ave. Miami, Florida. (305) 631-0001 www.FerdinandFuneralHomes.com