Ondina E. Kaba

Ondina Exposito Kaba was born on April 16, 1926 in Havana, Cuba. Ondina was raised in Havana and attended The University of Havana achieving a Doctorate in Philosophy and Letters. She taught at the University of Havana for 10 years. She married Eby B. Kaba in 1953 and had two children – Ibis and Eby Jorge Jr.

In 1962 Ondina sought exile and fled to the United States during the Castro Revolution seeking to reunite with her young children who were sent to the U.S. a year earlier. The family settled in Chicago, Illinois and resided there for 15 years.

Ondina’s previous education in Havana was acknowledged by Loyola University and she received a

Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1967. She continued her studies receiving two additional Masters Degrees from Roosevelt University. Ondina was one of the first 100 teachers in the U.S. to initiate the ESL program – English as a Second Language – to children who immigrated to the America. Teaching was her passion. The family moved to Miami, Florida in 1977 and she continued to teach until she retired in 1995 from the Dade County Board of Education.

Ondina loved to travel, sing, play the piano and loved to dance! She was a very sociable person with a positive attitude toward everything in life. Ondina was a defender of human rights and a woman’s rights advocate. Her Faith was the guiding light in her life, and she practiced it daily.

In 2011 she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and moved to Southern California to be closer to her children. Ondina resided with her daughter, Ibis, in Orange, CA until her death at the age of 97. On July 2nd, 2023 she transitioned in a dream, peacefully entering the Kingdom of God and everlasting life.

She leaves behind her children, Ibis Kaba, Eby J. Kaba Jr, and her son in law – Ronald Oyer. She adored and was very proud of her 15 nieces and nephews, 8 great nieces and nephews, and seven beloved Godchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband of 61 years Eby B. Kaba, Sr., her Parents, her sisters Ofelia and Marina and the many friends and family members who now celebrate her home.

Funeral Services will be held at Harbor – Mt. Olive Memorial Mortuary in Southern California on July 10th. Funeral services in Miami will be held on Sunday July 16th at Caballero Funeral Home 8200 Bird Rd. Visitation hours begin at 4:00 PM. On Monday, July 17th – Solemn Mass at St. Timothy’s Church 5400 SW 102 Avenue at 10:00 am followed by Internment at Caballero/Rivero Woodlawn North Cemetery at 3260 8th St., Miami.