Helen Mendez Cabrera

Helen was born on September 17, 1923 in Tampa, Florida to Jose and Josefa Mendez. She attended Hillsborough High School. She worked at the Corral Wodiska Cigar Factory. From there she worked for her brother, Charles Mendez, at Redwing Carriers. In 1957 she pursued her true passion, fashion, and opened Two Sisters Dress Shop. Several years later she opened Helen Cabrera, Inc. Elegant Fashions where she worked until she retired at age 90. She was an accomplished seamstress.

Not only was Helen one of Tampa’s first female business entrepreneurs, she was also active in the Opti-Mrs. Club, Las Damas de Sant Yago and the Las Damas of Centro Austuriano. Helen loved her German Sheppard dogs and teaching her parakeets and cockatiels to sing. She loved music, dancing, cooking and traveling. The thing she loved most was spending time with her large family.

She was predeceased in death by her husband of 68 years, Mario Cabrera and her son in law Billy Turner, as well as her siblings Anthony, Bill and Charles Mendez and sister Manuela Diaz.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Lucy Turner, eight grandchildren, Tammy Steele (John), Billy Turner Jr. (Trish), Tianne Doyle (Dan), Brian Turner, Tricia McManus (Mike), Tiffany Hudson (Tra), Taryn Turner (Cesar) and Tenille Trigg (Charles).

She also had 20 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren.

A funeral mass will be held on Monday, April 24th, 2023 at 10:00am at St. Lawrence Church, 5225 North Himes Avenue.