Candida Maria Lebron passed away on March 29, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio, at the age of 90. Born on October 2, 1934, in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, she spent her life as a beacon of strength, faith, and generosity within her community.
Candida was a dedicated wife, mother and foster mother, deeply involved in the lives of those she cared for. She was a founding member of San Juan Bautista Church, the first Puerto Rican Catholic church in Cleveland, where she practiced her deep faith and served her community. Her home was always open, with an extra place at the table for anyone who needed it, reflecting her strong, opinionated, and feisty personality.
She was known for her exceptional cooking skills, especially her potato salad and rice dishes, and enjoyed sharing her Puerto Rican heritage through her cooking. Candida also had a gifted hand as a gardener, nurturing not only plants but the relationships around her.
Candida leaves behind a loving family: daughters Evelyn Quinn (Patrick), Marian Lebron (Cheri Morabito) , Juanita Oswald (Jimmy), Mary Lou Lebron; granddaughter Katie Quinn; grandsons Carlos (Taylor) and Marcos Oswald; great-grandson Asher Oswald; honorary son, David Dare ( Jim Lorenzi); sisters Agripina Cruz and Eileen Alkassem (Sam) and many nieces, nephews and godchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Juan; grandson Zachary Quinn; and her parents Roque and Leonarda Cruz.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 2, from 4-8 PM at Corrigan Craciun Funeral Home, 14768 Lorain Ave., Cleveland, OH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 11AM at La Sagrada Familia Church, 7719 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, OH. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to La Sagrada Familia Church.
