Clara Caridad Matos

Clara, Yuyi or Yully's, Mita, Nani as known to family and friends, was born in Sagua La Grande, Las Villas, Cuba, on September 28, 1953, to Idalberto W. and Clara D. Matos. She was sister to the late Idalberto P. Matos, and (survived by) Mario A. Matos, Miriam C. Matos, and Delia Castro.

Yuyi was a devoted mother to her three children, Joycelyn, Sashaa-Ahyleen, and Gabryel. She cherished her seven grandchildren: Justin, Christian, Joshua, Caden, Cassidy, Cevyn, Mayleen, and her niece Lianette and nephews Jose, Mario, Dwight, Devin, and their families.

Leaving the only home she knew in hopes for a better future, Yuyi arrived in the United States on December 15, 1970, with her sister Miriam at the age of 17. With her late brother's help, she promptly enrolled at Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland. Although Yuyi only spoke Spanish, she attended ESOL classes and mastered the language. She graduated from Blair in 1972 and was proud to be a Blair Blazer.

Clara began her MCPS career in 1989 when she began working at John F. Kennedy High School. Over the years, she advanced positions working as an office secretary at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School, guidance secretary, and a registrar at Springbrook High School and Walter Johnson High School, her final work home where she worked for over twenty years. Clara took great pride in working for MCPS and at each school, where she adopted the community as her own family.

Whether you knew her as Yuyi, Yully's, Mita, or Nani, she was adored by all who had the privilege and honor to meet her. She was an extraordinary friend to many. Yuyi was a special person with a unique smile that lit up any room. We will deeply miss seeing her face, her smile, her spirit, her enthusiasm, her fierce determination, her stubbornness, and this beautiful soul who can never be replaced.

We find comfort in knowing that she finds peace, reunited with her mother and father.

The family would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation for all those who loved and cared for her.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visitation and funeral services for Clara, which will be held in the DeVol Funeral Home at 10 E Deer Park Dr. Gaithersburg, MD 20877. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 8, from 2 to 4 pm for viewing. A service will be held on Thursday, September 9, commencing at 11 am. Interment will follow at Fort Lincoln Memorial Cemetery at 3401 Bladensburg Rd Brentwood MD 20722.

To keep everyone safe, the family requests that only those who are fully vaccinated attend the service and those who are not, to follow current CDC recommendations regarding masks.

Donations to the Go Fund Me link for unexpected expenses would be greatly appreciated.

Click Here For GoFund Me