Lilia M. Fernandez

A funeral service will occur Tuesday, December 27, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Saint Brendan Catholic Church, 8725 SW 32nd St, Miami, FL 33165, Miami, FL 33165. A committal service will occur Tuesday, December 27, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Caballero Rivero Woodlawn North, 3260 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33135.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caballeroriverosunset.com for the Fernandez family.Lilia Fernandez, age 93, passed away peacefully in her home in West Palm Beach on December 18th, 2022, surrounded by her family at her bedside. She was born on July 22nd, 1929 in Jovellanos, Matanzas, Cuba, to Rufino Llerena and Maria Luisa Martinez. She had three siblings, Luz Maria, Giraldo, and Dalia. She met and married the love of her life, Guillermo Aroldo Fernandez and were blessed with two wonderful sons, Harold and Hugo.

In 1962, in the aftermath of the Cuban revolution, she immigrated to Miami, Florida with her husband and two sons. Upon her arrival to the United States, Lilia knew no shortage of hard work — her determination, love of her family, and hope for a new, better life helped her to support her family as an industrious and loving wife and mother. Upon her arrival, she went to work as a seamstress at a clothing factory. As is often the case for many immigrating Cuban families, she and her family opened their home to relatives and friends who also made the journey to the United States, and in doing so, she offered those in pursuit of a better life shelter, support, and, perhaps most importantly, a taste of her exquisite cooking. In 1966, she had her first and only daughter, Lilian - a miracle and delight in Lilia’s eyes - who gave her the opportunity to use her exceptional talent as a seamstress to dress her up in adorable, homemade dresses and clothes. She was later joined in the United States by her parents, her brother, Giraldo, her sister, Dalia, and their families. In 1975, Lilia and her husband suffered their greatest struggle together, the tragic loss of their youngest son, Hugo.

Lilia was universally known as a loving, tender, and pious wife, mother, and grandmother, as hardworking and strong as she was sweet and caring. Her life was punctuated with challenges and hardships, each of which she overcame with the unequivocal grace and strength that marks true resilience, integrity, and character. In spite of her many challenges and tests in this life, she never forgot how to laugh and remained a source of joy and beauty to all those around her. She was the type of woman who, in her seventies, would board a Greyhound bus from Miami to Niagara Falls to sightsee with a friend, which she did. To her family, she was and always will be the epitome of womanhood; an emblem of love, compassion, and strength that inspires all those who knew her to be their best selves, to give without measure, and to serve one’s family with the sort of love and vigor for which she will always be remembered.

She is survived by her son, Harold, her daughter, Lilian, her sister, Dalia, her grandchildren Gyvonne, Harold Jr., Emily, and Kristen, her great-grandchildren, Isla and Soleil, her nephews Celso, Luis, Giraldo, Gregory, and Gustavo, and her loving family and friends who will continue to remember her and cherish her legacy.

Memorial Contributions may be made to:

St. Jude Children's Research HospitalLilia Fernández, de 93 años, falleció pacíficamente en su casa en West Palm Beach el 18 de diciembre de 2022, rodeada de su familia. Nació el 22 de julio de 1929 en Jovellanos, Matanzas, Cuba, de Rufino Llerena y María Luisa Martínez. Tenía tres hermanos, Luz María, Giraldo y Dalia. Conoció y se casó con el amor de su vida, Guillermo Aroldo Fernández y fueron bendecidos con dos hijos maravillosos, Harold y Hugo.

En 1962, después de la revolución cubana, emigró a Miami, Florida, con su esposo y sus dos hijos. A su llegada a los Estados Unidos, a Lilia no le faltaba el trabajo arduo: su determinación, el amor por su familia y la esperanza de una vida nueva y mejor la ayudaron a mantener a su familia como una esposa y madre trabajadora y amorosa. A su llegada, se puso a trabajar como costurera en una fábrica de ropa. Como suele ser el caso de muchas familias inmigrantes cubanas, ella y su familia abrieron su hogar a parientes y amigos que también viajaron a los Estados Unidos, y al hacerlo, ofreció a quienes buscaban una vida mejor refugio, apoyo, y, quizás lo más importante, una muestra de su exquisita cocina. En 1966, tuvo a su primera y única hija, Lilian, un milagro a los ojos de Lilia, quien le dio la oportunidad de usar su excepcional talento como costurera para vestirla con adorables vestidos y ropa hechos en casa. Más tarde se unieron a ella en los Estados Unidos sus padres, su hermano Giraldo, su hermana Dalia y sus familias. En 1975, Lilia y su esposo sufrieron juntos su mayor lucha, la trágica pérdida de su hijo menor, Hugo.

Lilia era universalmente conocida como una esposa, madre y abuela amorosa, tierna y piadosa, tan trabajadora y fuerte como dulce y cariñosa. Su vida estuvo marcada por desafíos y dificultades, cada uno de los cuales superó con la gracia y la fuerza inequívocas que marcan la verdadera resiliencia, integridad y carácter. A pesar de sus muchos desafíos y pruebas en esta vida, nunca olvidó cómo reír y siguió siendo una fuente de alegría y belleza para todos los que la rodeaban. Era el tipo de mujer que, a los setenta, abordaría un autobús Greyhound de Miami a las Cataratas del Niágara para hacer turismo con un amigo, lo cual hizo. Para su familia, ella fue y siempre será el epítome de la feminidad; un emblema de amor, compasión y fuerza que inspira a todos aquellos que la conocieron a ser lo mejor de sí mismos, a dar sin medida y a servir a la familia con el tipo de amor y vigor por el que siempre será recordada.

Le sobreviven su hijo Harold, su hija Lilian, su hermana Dalia, sus nietos Gyvonne, Harold Jr., Emily y Kristen, sus bisnietos Isla y Soleil, sus sobrinos Celso, Luis, Giraldo, Gregory , y Gustavo, y su amada familia y amigos que continuarán recordándola y apreciando su legado.