Maria Dora Abolafia

MARIA DORA ABOLAFIA, age 88, entered into eternal rest on April 18, 2011. She joined her beloved husband, Max Abolafia, M.D. She was born in Zuehl, TX, on December 5, 1922, to Maria and Antonio Valdez. Dora was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, Mimi, and friend. Dora met Max while he was stationed at Fort Sam Houston and they married on December 31, 1943. After his discharge, they moved to Havana, Cuba so Max could finish medical school. They moved to Houston in 1952, and continued to call Houston home. They had two beautiful daughters, Eleanor and Mary, who both attended college close to home at the University of Houston. They both later married and settled in Sugar Land to raise their families just miles from Dora and Max. Dora was the ultimate "housewife". She learned to cook Turkish, Greek, and Cuban food from her mother-in-law. Her family will miss all of the delicious dishes she would make for them. Dora was an avid gardener, and her yard was always full of flowers and beautiful color. Dora was always surrounded by many pets. Animals could sense her kindness and knew her home was open and filled with love for all. Dora was preceded in death by her beloved mother, Maria; her father, Antonio; the love of her life, Max; brother, Armando; and sister, Florence. She is survived by her daughters, Eleanor Abolafia Kennedy and Mary Abolafia Denena and her husband Joe; her five grandchildren, Catherine Denena Sallman and her husband Scott, James Max Kennedy and wife Alexis, Anthony Max Denena and wife Andrea, Jennifer Kennedy Stovall and husband Michael, and James Robert Denena and wife Melissa; and her fourteen great grandchildren, who call her Mimi: Joey, Alexandra and Emma Sallman; James Max II, Sophia and Chloe Kennedy; Anthony Max Jr., Ella and Sophia Denena; Max, William and Andrew Stovall; and Isabella and Juliana Denena. Dora is also survived by her sisters, Adela Lopez and Irene Garza; brother, Louis Valdez and wife Diane; and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank her caregivers, Adela, Aurelia, and Rosa. Their care of her was always with love. We would also like to thank the staff of Hospice Compassus, especially Crystal Thielen-Harris and Chaplin Pat, who were the family's guiding light through Dora's journey. A visitation will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at Earthman Southwest Chapel,

Stafford. Funeral Services will be hold at 11:00 AM, on Thursday, April 21, at Earthman Southwest Chapel, with a reception to follow. Interment will be at Beth Israel Cemetery, Houston. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Citizens for Animal Portection (CAP), BARC, or SPCA of Texas.

Arrangements under the direction of Earthman Southwest Funeral Home, Stafford, TX.