SALABARRIA, Evelyn Valdes, 86, entered into rest September 14, 2015. She was born in Ybor City, but grew up in the Bronx. Evelyn worked at Frayne Sportswear as a seamstress then at Sulphur Springs Elementary School as a bilingual teacher’s aide. She loved music, dancing, and playing the maracas. She was lovingly known as “La Maraquera”. Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, Isabel Acosta and Pastor Pages. She is survived by her siblings, Rosa Leon, Oscar Valdes (Nancy) and Robert Pages (Olga); children, Margie Benner (Mike) and Manny Sosa (Leslie); grandchildren, Michelle Elkins (Todd), Mike Benner Jr. (Pilar) and Karen Sosa; great grandchildren, Danielle Redman, Allison Elkins, Emma Elkins, Nico Benner, Alex Benner and Mikie Benner; great-great grandchild, Ayden Redman; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be held 10:30 am Friday, September 18 at Garden of Memories Funeral Home, Tampa. Flowers will be accepted at the funeral home or donations to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, or take your family to dinner and share some stories in memory of Evelyn.
