Manuel G. Buigas

Deacon Manuel Buigas passed away peacefully at his home in the early morning hours of August 10, 2021. He was born in Holguin, Cuba, on August 28, 1935. Deacon Buigas attended Colegio de Belen in Marianao, Cuba, then went on to earn a degree in accounting from the University of Havana. He then met and married his wife of 50 years, Berta Betancourt, with whom he had nine children.

Deacon Buigas fled Cuba in 1967 and immigrated to the United States with his growing family in 1968. For most of his adult life Deacon Buigas worked professionally as an accountant, but his true passion was to serve others through the Catholic Church. After many years as a eucharistic minister, Deacon Buigas completed studies to become a deacon. He was based out St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, where he delighted in conducting countless masses, weddings and baptisms (including those of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren).

Deacon Buigas is survived by his nine children: Manuel (Silvia Brito); Pedro (Edilia Aguilar); Berta Shaheen; Javier (Maria Odio); Gabriel (Rossana Arguello); Maria Chamorro (Clarence); Lourdes Delgado (Orlando); Ana Arazoza (Alberto; and Hector (Inga McIntosh); his 25 grandchildren and his 16 (and counting) great-grandchildren.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church on August 19, 2021, at 9:30 AM, immediately followed by a burial service at Our Lady of Mercy Cemetery.