Graciela Rojas Donnell

Graciela Rojas Donnell passed away peacefully on the morning of May 21, 2022 in Miami at the age of 93. She was born in Santa Clara, Cuba on February 26, 1929 to Graciela Campos Lozano and Luis M. Rojas. She studied at the Colegio Teresiano in Santa Clara as had her mother before her and which her daughters would later attend. She was a lifelong musician studying and excelling at the piano at the Conservatorio Fischermann in Santa Clara. She played the piano beautifully and from memory until just weeks before her passing. After primary and high school, she became an educator and graduated from the Escuela Normal de Kindergarten becoming a Kindergarten teacher.

Graciela met and married the love of her life, Octavio J. Donnell, in Santa Clara. Octavio, a native of Havana, was working in Santa Clara as a civil engineer. They married in August of 1950, the beginning of a marriage which would span nearly 65 years together until his death in June, 2015. Graciela and Octavio had three daughters, Vivian, Elena and Graciela (Shelly), forming the family which would be at the center of their life. They emigrated to the United States in March of 1961, and continued a life focused on family, hard work and dedication to each other and their daughters. They began their lives again in Miami as exiles, as did many from their generation. They rebuilt their lives, providing a solid and loving life for their family with education and faith at their core. They were grandparents to four grandchildren and great-grandparents to four great-grandchildren. Abi, as she was known to her grandkids, was a central figure in all their lives, caring for them and imparting a sense of love, honor and generosity of spirit.

Graciela is survived by her daughters, her four grandchildren (Leanna, Daniel, Kristen and Nicole) and her four great-grandchildren (Alexis, Brooke, Evan and Julian). She was loved by all who met her and is missed profoundly by her family and friends.

A Funeral Mass and Memorial will be held at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Miami Shores on Saturday, June 4 at 11:00 a.m.