Gladys Lozano

Gladys is survived by son Tony Lozano; daughter-in-law Virna Chavez; son Sergio Lozano; daughter-in-law Dolores Lozano; and daughter-in-law Vanessa Lozano; grandson Antonio Alberto Lozano II, grandson Sergio S. Lozano, grandson Ellot Osrin, grandson Carlos Lozano, granddaughter Olivia Osrin, grandson Osvaldo Lozano, grandson Briant Lozano and great grandson James Lozano.

A visitation for Gladys will be held Friday, July 2, 2021 from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM at Caballero Rivero Westchester, 8200 BIRD RD, MIAMI, FL 33155. A funeral mass will occur Saturday, July 3, 2021 at 9:15 AM at ST. Brendan Catholic Church, 8725 SW 32nd St, Miami, FL 33175. A burial will occur Saturday, July 3, 2021 at 11:15 AM at Our Lady of Mercy, 11411 NW 25th St., Doral, FL 33172.

Abuelo and Abuela what you left behind.

For those of you that did not have the pleasure to know who Tony and Gladys Lozano were, let me tell you a story of who they were and what they left behind.

My grandparents met their other halves when they were in their early teens in Havana, Cuba. This was back in the day when visits to see a girlfriend needed to be strictly supervised.

They dated early on and always were in each other’s lives throughout the chaos of the Cuban Revolution.

As a teenager and without his parents, Abuelo left Cuba with just the clothes on his back to come to the US.

When he arrived, my grandfather that always worked in banking, went straight to work as a busboy in different restaurants to save as much money as he could.

The first thing he did when he had enough money saved was to request that my grandmother be brought from Cuba to marry him. My grandmother agreed and shortly after arriving they were married.

Consider what my grandmother did at that point, she left her entire family to come to the US just to marry my grandfather. She left everyone and everything she knew trusting that what was waiting for her was enough to push forward.

At that point abuelo and abuela lived in Orlando, FL. Abuelo worked 3 jobs to support his new family that consisted of himself, my grandmother, my father Sergio Lozano and my uncle Tony Lozano.

As my grandfather and grandmother worked to establish themselves they were able to buy a house and ultimately save up enough to request both their parents from Cuba to come live in their small home.

Again, it humbles me to think while some would immediately think about buying cars, boats and other luxuries; my grandparents used their hard earned income for family.

With time and hard work my grandparents were transferred to Miami based on my grandfather’s abilities in banking and his ability to speak English and Spanish.

Abuelo and abuela always taught our family that hard work and being a “company man” would lead to success.

Because of them and their teachings my Uncle worked for Publix for 37 years and was able to retire before 60. My uncle would always be the first one in and the last one out. The same way abuelo was.

My grandparents always put family first no matter what. So when a young man in his early 20’s decided he was going to stop studying accounting and had the idea to start his own Customs brokerage firm, my grandparents, although reluctant at first, supported my father.

What did support mean, it meant abuela waiting until very late for my grandfather to come home because after working a full day as the Vice President of bank. Abuelo would head over to my dad’s office to help him all night to ensure my father’s business had their books and accounting in order. “y lo hacía de gratis”

This happened every night for two years. When finally my grandfather and grandmother decided that my grandfather would retire from banking and come work for their son.

Again, put yourself in their shoes. They decided that Abuelo would give up the career that he had worked for since leaving Cuba. Risking their own financial security to go work full time doing more work for a small Customs brokerage firm for a fraction of what he was earning.

Over the years the business grew and my grandfather always ensured the accounting was in order. What did that mean, abuelo would be the CFO, bookkeeper, accounts payable clerk, accounts receivable clerk and collector.

As I write this pictures and memories of all the stories and times I heard abuelo arguing with clients and memories of working with him flow though my mind.

My father always said that the cornerstone to his success was that he never had worry about the finances because he knew his dad was there.

31 years later a small business of 2 people has grown to over 55 employees that are family that gave my father the security and ability to enjoy my grandparents with my uncle in their final year.

Abuelo “retired” a year ago but would still come in at least twice a week to review the books and make sure everything was in order. Up until the last moment I saw him he was their discussing with me the amount of overtime and strategizing what we should do about it.

Our family’s joke about abuelo and retirement was always that abuela spoke with my father and told him that the day we couldn’t pay him anymore, she would pay us so abuelo would stay at the office because she needed a couple of hours a week with him out of the house for her own sanity.

We always laughed about this because we knew it was truly just a joke. My grandparents were truly devoted to one another. They were inseparable. And abuela was mom to all of us.

Abuela wow, I don’t have enough words to describe what you mean and what left behind for us all. You personified what it was to be a mother, a partner, a grandmother, a friend and great grandmother. Their was nothing, absolutely nothing that people could not talk to you about that you would not accept and understand.

You taught us through showing us that love meant accepting everything about a person. To care and forgive when others wouldn’t. To always fight for family and never hold a grudge because it was not worth it.

You loved chisme but always came up with a perspective that shed light and positive twist to whatever it was.

Your devotion to our family in the great times and in the worst times will always be remembered and cherished.

Abuelo and Abuela more than anything what you left behind is a foundation strong enough to hold us all up in moments like this.

You left us memories and teachings that will be the glue that keeps us all together. You two will always live in our hearts, minds and through the people you touched throughout your lives.

I love you both so much and promise to always cherish and grow what you left behind.