Elba Cabrera

Elba Cabrera, daughter of Eva Lopez and Sixto Cabrera, died peacefully in the early hours of May 10, 2024. She was the youngest and last surviving member of Las Tres Hermanas (the Three Sisters). Their Love of Puerto Rico as community advocates inspired countless artists and activists, starting in the Bronx.

Elba was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on September 10, 1933 at the height of the Depression. The times were very hard on La Isla del Encanto with few jobs and even less opportunity to build anything resembling a good life. She and her sister Lillian joined her mother and elder sister Evelina in New York City in 1935, moving to Spanish Harlem with her Aunt Vicenta Godreau and her husband Enrique.

Elba's evolution into becoming a "Bronx Girl'' began when the family moved to the South Bronx. That is where the family's efforts to struggle and survive in a city that was unwelcoming of their Spanish-speaking cousins from the colony of Puerto Rico were transformed into a lifetime of activism.

Upon graduating high school, Elba sold shoes on the Lower East Side while enjoying the music of the times. While dancing at the (original) Palladium to the tunes of Tito Puente, she met Anthony Mondesire. Their whirlwind romance saw the birth of Anthony Jr. in 1955 and the arrival of Paul in 1960. Elba exchanged a life as a homemaker to support her sister Evelina's newly founded United Bronx Parents (UBP) in 1965.

Elba's work at UBP created a template and set the course for the rest of her life. Shortly after earning a bachelor's degree in Political Science from SUNY at Old Westbury in 1978, Elba became the Associate Director of the Association of Hispanic Arts (AHA), where the works of marginalized Latino artists were actively and forcefully promoted. AHA is also where her nickname, La Madrina de las Artes, was born.

Her professional resume underscores the versatility of a gifted non-profit leader including

Director of Outreach for the Center for Media Arts, Marketing Director for the Lehman College Center for the Performing Arts, and Regional Community Engagement Specialist for the Girl Scouts, and the Alzheimer's Outreach team at NYC Department of the Aging.

Elba always deferred to her family (Doña Vicenta and her sisters) when discussing leadership roles, but she was a Force of Nature herself. Her passion for living was demonstrated throughout her life. It was displayed in her unshakeable faith, love of art, travel, fashion, dancing, music, and serving others.

Elba Cabrera LOVED her Family! She is survived by her sons Tony Mondesire-Cabrera (Carmen) and Paul Mondesire (Kimberly Steger), granddaughters Carina Rosario Mondesire and Quearis Inara Mondesire, and a multitude of Friends who Are FAMILY. All will miss her and be inspired by her legacy for as long as her name is spoken. May her Memory Be a Blessing.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to the following in Elba's name.

Advent Lutheran Church, NYC

https://www.adventnyc.org/give

Center for Puerto Rican Studies, Hunter College

https://community.hunter.cuny.edu/supportcentro

Pregones Cultural Center

https://pregonesprtt.org/donate/

Hostos Community College

https://hostos.thankyou4caring.org/

Comité Noviembre

https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/2093916

Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute

https://cccadi.kindful.com/