Maria Umana Solano

Maria Gerardina Umana-Solano, known affectionately as Maria to her friends and family, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2024, in Neptune, New Jersey. Born on August 31, 1953, in Higuito San Mateo, Alajuela Costa Rica. Maria's life was a vibrant tapestry woven with love, creativity, and service. Her warm presence and kind spirit will profoundly be missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.
Maria is predeceased by her mother, Arnolida Solano Soto; her father, Edgar Umana Barquero; and her brothers, Giovanni and Luis Emilio. She is survived by her brothers Ulises, Jorge, Edwin, Miguel, and Edgar, her sisters Mercedes and Carolina, and many nieces and nephews. Maria is also survived by her beloved daughters, Catherine Reynoso-Umana, Laura Umana-Solano, and her wife Kimberly A. Clark, and her youngest daughter, Natalia Murillo-Umana, and her fiancé, Mike Baimba. Maria's legacy continues through her cherished grandchildren, Brianna, Christian, Aliyahna, Jayden, Jovanni, and Alexa, who brought boundless joy and laughter into her life.
Maria's journey began in Higuito San Mateo Alajuela, Costa Rica, where she completed her baccalaureate from Collegio de San Mateo. She continued her education in Business Administration in Costa Rica and later went on to earn an associate in medical Coding from Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, New Jersey. Maria served many companies in Costa Rica as a business administrator, including Copesa Industries in San Jose. In New Jersey, she dedicated her life to working for Meridian Health, where she started at Riverview Medical Center and later moved to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where she retired.
Maria's creative spirit found expression in her many interests. She was an amazing painter and artist with a particular love for painting flowers, especially her roses, and hummingbirds. Her artistic talents extended to calligraphy, knitting, and sewing. She found great satisfaction as she crafted quilt blankets that enveloped her loved ones in warmth and comfort.
As per Maria's wishes, there will be no services, and she will be interred in Costa Rica. In lieu of sending flowers, please make donations to the Multiple System Atrophy Foundation: https://www.multiplesystematrophy.org/