Ana Irma Pujol

Ana Irma Castillo Pujol passed away peacefully at the age of 93 in Sugar Land, Texas. Affectionately known as “Ave” by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was born in Havana, Cuba, on June 19, 1932, to Manuel A. Castillo and Ana Esther Menendez Castillo.

Ana was married to Ignacio Alberto Pujol for 67 years, until his passing in 2020. She was preceded in death by her five siblings: Bertha Cartaya, Maria Teresa Palacio, Manuel Castillo, Marta Diaz, and Elina Castillo.

She is survived by her daughter, Ana Irma Pujol; her son, Ignacio Pujol Jr., and his wife, Cindy Pujol; her granddaughter, DeeAna Archer, and her husband, Todd Archer; her grandson, Alexander Pujol, and his wife, Analisa Pujol; and her beloved great-grandchildren, Isabella Archer, Bliss Archer, Bethany Archer, Bailey Archer, Julian Pujol, and Murphy Pujol. She also leaves behind many cherished nieces and nephews.

Ana finished school in Cuba, and after frequent trips to Miami, she met her husband who was a student at the University of Miami School of Engineering. They got married in Cuba in 1953. In 1960, Ana left Cuba with her husband and two young children as Castro rose to power. They traveled extensively around the world before ultimately building a new life in the United States and settling in Houston, Texas. Through courage, faith, and determination, she created a life filled with opportunity, love, and security for her family. When her first granddaughter was born, she cared for her as her own, and DeeAna considered herself blessed to have Ave as another mother.

Ana especially loved spending weekends at her beach house in Galveston, where she felt closest to the ocean. She found great joy in cooking traditional Cuban meals for her family, who eagerly gathered around her table. Her kitchen was a place of warmth, laughter, and togetherness.

She had a deep love for dogs and always delighted in having them nearby. They brought her constant joy and companionship, and she welcomed them as part of the family. Whether caring for her own dogs or showering affection on her children's and great-grandchildren’s pets, she never missed an opportunity to give them extra love and attention. She shared a special bond with her great-grandchild Bailey, whom she affectionately nicknamed “Cubanita,” as Bailey reminded her of a younger version of herself.

Her warmth, resilience, strength, and unwavering devotion to her family will be remembered always, and her legacy will live on in the generations she cherished so dearly.