Frances M Bauta

Frances M. Bauta, 92, passed away Sept. 11 in Miami. Born in 1923, Frances was an interesting woman who spoke Spanish, English and German, she was born in Cuba but also lived in Germany, Panama and the U.S. She had a rule that whatever country the family lived in, the family would speak that language at home. She had strength and audacity. In 1960, when she had to send one of daughters to the U.S on the last ferry from Havana to Key West, she sent many of the family’s belongings with her. Frances knew all boxes would be inspected and the guards often stole valuables, so she hammered nails every half inch on the top, making opening them impossible. She put her daughter and the crates on the ferry at the last minute confounding the guards because they couldn’t open the crates. The ferry needed to leave on time, so the guards had to let them go without inspection. In the 60’s, her house was known as The Embassy because much of her extended family stayed there until they could find work and get settled in their new country. Frances never stopped learning. She became an artistic photographer when she retired, capturing vivid images of flowers and plant life and transformed them into visual poetry. She taught herself to use a computer at 72 and even learned Photoshop. She enriched the lives of everyone she met. More than anything, Frances loved her family and would drop everything if they needed her help. Frances is survived by seven children, 17 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.