Coral Gables, Florida - Gilda Machado Plasencia was born in Havana, Cuba, on September 5, 1940. She was the daughter of Nestor Machado Rovira and Hilda Lopez-Muñoz Rosales. The eldest of five children, she lived a wonderful childhood, graduating from the Sacred Heart School in 1958. In August 1961, she fled communism and settled in Miami with her family. Gilda went on to marry esteemed banker Jorge R. Plasencia. She worked in healthcare earlier in life, and after raising her younger son as a stay-at-home mother, she obtained her real estate license in her mid-forties, becoming a top associate at The Keyes Company in Coral Gables, Fla. A woman of deep faith, she prioritized giving back and caring for others. She believed that charity began at home and was always there to care for the elders in the family. She supported numerous organizations, especially causes related to children, education, veterans, and animal welfare. Gilda’s happy place was Marco Island, Fla., her second home, where she loved to spend time with family. She is survived by her children, Emanuel Gironi and Jorge A. Plasencia; brother, Nestor (Lourdes) Machado; sister, Ana Maria (Miguel) Machado Guerrero; sister-in-law, Sr. Carmen Gloria Plasencia; nieces, nephews, and cousins; and her beloved labradoodle, Joy. Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 17, from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Caballero Rivero Funeral Home, 3344 SW 8th St., Miami; Funeral Mass will take place on Monday, December 18, at 11 a.m. at Church of the Little Flower, Coral Gables, followed by Burial at Miami Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Gilda Machado Plasencia Children’s Fund at Amigos For Kids by visiting plasenciafoundation.org.
