Daisy Gonzalez Cardoso

Daisy González Cardoso (Daisy Nicolasa de la Caridad González Ortega de Cardoso), born September 10, 1932; passed on, (likely before day’s end on December 12 2021, the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, “Our Lady of the Americas,” to whom she felt devotion). Daisy was a good and faithful daughter, wife, mother and grandmother. Widely known for her empathy toward others, particularly those in need whom she helped bountifully throughout her life, even during times of limited means.

Just in her trips back in Cuba to cover the dire needs of family, friends and even unknowns (in excess of all that she also helped right here at home) she ingeniously packed supplies in such a way so she would be able to carry more with which to provide for them, to the extent that she once wore some clothes over each other so that she could leave all of it to them there, as even basic items were scarce or non-existent.

Since childhood she felt best drawn to elderly people, such as an elderly lady neighbor she befriended, for she felt that the old tended to have lived and gathered more interesting and beneficial experiences to share. Since youth she also developed and instilled in her children a great empathy for the victims of the Holocaust, having met and become friends with several families who had fled to Cuba and who had been traumatized by such horrors.

From youth to middle age many who saw or knew her admired her obvious physical beauty. Yet she was

always humble, never dwelling on external attributes, shunning makeup other than lipstick and ostentatious clothes and accessories. During her teens she had studied ballet under the renown Alberto Alonso at the Havana Municipal Conservatory. She modeled some as well. Prepared to be launched as a singer but felt an aversion to the entertainers’ lifestyle in general and some of the immorality to which she might be exposed and opted to continue towards marriage and motherhood, having as well studied at the Havana Business Institute.

She reared her children in the Catholic teachings, which she had learned when in her dire poverty, El Ángel de la Guarda (Guardian Angel) school Director Mariana Lola Álvarez had taken her in as student for whatever her mom were able to pay.She always dreamed of being a mother. She met beloved-to-be Armando A. Cardoso (Tampa born medical school classmate of her Cuban brother at the University of Havana) where Armando was attending after serving during WWII after having graduated from the University of Tampa. They married in 1953. She gave birth to her first born, Jerry Dean at age 23 and Teddy Jeff at age 25. They lived in Cuba until December 1967, from where they fled communism and came to live in Tampa.

Both she and Armand felt great attachment to each other and they loved eating out and socializing with close friends and meeting or helping new ones. She was also a brave woman. Still in Havana, communist soldiers came to require her children go away to camps for weeks to work in the fields as part of their “school.” She valiantly and sternly refused them, something that could place any citizen in great conflict and peril with the government. Later from Tampa, she desired to offer herself to join to help liberate her beloved Cuba, but her priority as a mother ended up keeping her from it.

She was highly intelligent, well read, curious for knowledge and likewise reared her children with ongoing

education by taking them to museums, theaters, and children fairs and sharing knowledge herself with them. She always made sure her children were aware of what a good father they had, how hard he worked for them and about how they both loved them. When Ted left to medical school they loved to send him packages with even Cuban bread along with every other goodie so he would continue to feel the flavors and warmth of home. Daisy was intrinsically loyal, even since childhood, both to the living, as well as to the respect and merit of those who had gone before us. Even as a toddler, when a popular radio personality was announced to have just passed away, she immediately turned off the radio, closed its doors, and said pronouncing his name, “he has died, so no music.” She and Armand were the type of couple who argued to give the larger or nicest looking portion of dinner to each other, and previously in Cuba when food was scarce, they both prioritized feeding their children as plentifully as possible over feeding themselves.

Armand and Daisy celebrated their silver anniversary in 1978 and renewed their vows in the presence of

family and friends with a priest from Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and in 2003 their Golden Anniversary. They had been happy with each other throughout fifty seven and a half years when on March 31 2011, she sadly lost him after his battle with Alzheimer.

Daisy had been naturalized as a US citizen in 1995, and while she loved her home here, a location she

defended fiercely and refusing to live anywhere else; she as well continued to harbor her great love for her city of Havana and the Cuban people. Daisy had a predilection for music and films from Mexico and Spain, including he classic “Zarzuelas” (Spanish musicals). She had a talent for imitation. As a little girl she impersonated a famous film character “Catita” on some of the radio shows in which her mom was participating. Some curious facts in Daisy’s life: Her “quince” (15th birthday celebration) took place at the restaurant in the cupola of the beautiful Havana Capitol Building; and at her wedding, the Ave Maria was sung by Ester Borja, one of the leading lyrical songstresses of Cuba and friend of her mom’s.

As a youngster, the famous Havana street character “El Caballero de Paris” (“the Parisian Knight”) today immortalized as a bronze statue in Havana, used to bring her flowers from “his royal garden” and he was hosted by Daisy’s mom for dinner at their home. Daisy’s maternal grandfather, a leather crafter, built the saddle for José Martí’s horse. Martí is Cuba’s national hero (something like their “George Washington.’)

She loved children. As a young mother she wished she could have also had a daughter, although later she turned out to be like a second mother to several girls who now as adults are still grateful for her presence and support in their lives. Even when already elderly and growing feeble, she still longed to be able to take care of children.

She had been the faithful daughter to the end to both her predeceased parents, Dr. Carlos González Gómez and Eva Amelia Ortega Padrón de Jerez as well as sister to her one brother, also predeceased, Dr. Carlos González Ortega. She is now survived by her children, Jerry Dean and Dr. Ted Cardoso and daughter-in-law Patricia “Tricia” Cardoso, as well as by their two children (her grandchildren) Alexander Antonio Cardoso and Dr. Nicole Cardoso Dragna, and nieces/nephew Milly, Maby, and Dr. Juan Carlos González. As for her very long name: she was named Nicolasa for being born on St. Nicolas’s feast day and “Caridad” (“Charity”) in honor of “Our Lady of Charity,” the Cuban icon of the Virgin Mary; and later “de Cardoso,” as in hispanic countries the married woman keeps both her parent’s surnames and adds “de,” meaning “wife of” Cardoso.

After the mass at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 5225 N Himes Ave, Tampa, FL 33614, Ted and Tricia will be receiving her close friends and family at their home from about 3:30 to 5:30 PM.

We heartily appreciate your interest in her, your loyalty, and most importantly your prayers!