Ernestina Valdivia Marrero

Ernestina Valdivia Marrero, passed away peacefully on August 11, 2023. She was born November 11, 1937 in Cuba. She married the love of her life, Juan Francisco Marrero in May of 1959, who preceded her in death in 2014.
She grew up in Colon, Cuba, with her parents and two sisters and one brother. When she first arrived in Miami from Cuba, she started out cleaning houses. When she and her husband and young daughter moved to Chicago, she worked at General Electric assembling rotary phones. After living in Chicago for many years, she, her husband and her two young children moved to Miami, where she attended cosmetology school and became a hair dresser, a job she truly enjoyed until her retirement.
Ernestina loved spending time with family, always making them feel welcomed and loved. Ernestina was a dedicated mother first and foremost. She treasured her children and embraced every moment with them. She especially loved her role as Abuela and Bisabuela. She also shared her love with food such as roast pork, picadillo, her famous Thanksgiving meals, and her favorite dessert flan, as well as making Cuban coffee. She enjoyed going to the mall and had a deep love of  flowers, especially her favorite flower, orchids.
Her life was a living example of love and selflessness, being kind and compassionate to others. Ernestina is survived by her son Tony, daughter Elisa, and her grandchildren Erica, Anthony, Deanna, Christian, Carolina, David and one great- grandchild Christopher. All of these she loved and touched deeply. Her presence will always be felt and she will be truly missed.