Herminia Prieto

Herminia Prieto, adored wife, mother, Abuela, and Bisabuela passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on March 20, 2023. “Minin”, as she was known to her family and friends, was born June 18, 1932 in Havana, Cuba.

Minin met the love of her life, Felipe, the best friend of her older brother, when she was a girl. For years they flirted and went on chaperoned dates. Finally, they married in 1957 and began their long life together in Havana. They had 3 children and lived happily until they recognized the danger of staying in a country which would deny them and their children their personal freedoms. They fled Havana in 1962, a young couple with three babies, $10, and the clothes on their backs.

As they made their way to the United States, it was a seemingly insurmountable challenge to have nothing but each other and start a new life in an unknown country. Minin faced with dignity the undignified struggles encountered by so many immigrants to this country. Both Minin and Felipe were forced to take whatever work they could find in order to feed and house their family. They started in Tampa, Florida and moved to Houston, Texas in 1968. Over the years, and with much hard work, they prospered.

Minin made a beautiful life for her family. She was playful and loving, showing her family that you can rise above adversity without allowing it to break your spirit. She was fondly referred to as the “original tough cookie”, inspiring her daughters and granddaughters to be strong women.

In addition to her family, Minin had several passions. She loved to cook, and her “arroz con pollo” and “croquetas” are legendary. She enjoyed gardening, traveling, and art. Throughout her life she demonstrated the importance of generosity and inner beauty. Minin was also always the most beautiful person in whatever space she occupied, but was too humble to realize it.

Minin’s legacy of love and beauty will live on in those left to cherish her memory. They include Felipe, her husband of 65 years; her daughter and son in law Ana and Gregg Anderson along with granddaughters and their husbands Taylor and Garrett Galloway, and Kelsey and Christian Tekell; her son and daughter in law Philip and Dee Prieto along with granddaughters Alexandra and husband Jon Lemieux, and Lauren Prieto; her daughter Victoria Hoffman along with grandchildren Alex and wife Rachel Hoffman, and Sophia Hoffman; 5 great grandchildren; 2 sisters in law and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff at Belmont Village, and is especially grateful to Vanessa Ramirez for her loving and tireless care of “Doña Herminia” during her last years. Our beloved Minin requested no service on her behalf and wished to be honored by having others follow her example of love and generosity.