Melva A. Rios

Melva Allegue Rios, 89, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 30, 2020 surrounded by family. She was born May 5, 1930 in Camaguey, Cuba, and was the loving daughter of Manuel Allegue and Esperanza Prada.

Melva left Cuba in 1962 with her devoted husband, Rolando, and their daughters Cary and Melva, in order to give her children freedom and a chance for a better life. She was known for loving her family, and devoting her life to her husband, children, grandchildren, and extended family…from Miami to Atlanta and beyond.

She held a strong faith and trust in God, praying daily to our Loving Father and the Blessed Mother. Her Rosary and many prayer cards were at her side when she passed.

Melva was a loving daughter, sister, mother, wife and grandmother. She loved to talk daily on the phone with her sisters and loved to tell stories from the past. She sacrificed much with the purpose of bringing most of her 10 siblings and their families from Cuba to be together in the US. She was very close to her siblings, nieces and nephews. Known as the Matriarch of her large family, always offering a comfortable home, amazing Cuban meal, with much love, laughter and dancing.

Chi Chi (Melva) and Lalo (Rolando) happily shared 60 years of wedded life, and she was very proud of her daughters, son-in-laws and grandchildren. She loved being surrounded by them.

Melva is survived by her loving family: husband, Rolando, and her daughters and their spouses, Cary (Keith) Bentley and Melva (Dan) Murphy. She also leaves behind her 5 grandchildren: Alex, Macy and Delaney Bentley, and Kristina and Andrew Murphy. Finally, she also leaves her siblings Raquel Arias, Marta Borges, Roberto Allegue and Ismael Allegue along with over 20 loving nieces and nephews and even more grandnieces and nephews.

Below are the 2 links for family and friends to watch the recording of the eulogies and the Funeral Mass.

Eulogies:

https://vimeo.com/407224811

Funeral Mass:

https://vimeo.com/407226507

In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Melva faithfully donated to them on a monthly basis.

Let’s celebrate a life well lived!