Maria R. Sastre

Maria Milagros Rodriguez, better known to her friends as Milagros and by her loved ones as Mamá was born in Sancti-Spiritus, Cuba on September 20th., 1924. Her parents were Candido Rodriguez, an Entrepreneur originally from the Canary Islands, Spain and Ana Maria Escribano, a housewife who raised their 6 children. Milagros was raised in Sancti-Spiritus, attended El Apostolado Catholic School and completed her High School education at El Instituto de Segunda Enseñanza, also in Sancti Spiritus. She was courted by a young man of modest means but gigantic drive and determination named Luis Ernesto Sastre Lahera. After a few years of courtship Mamá married Papá, her beloved “Chinny” on December 19th, 1943. Of that marriage resulted their 3 children Marta, Luis and Ana Maria.

During the early years of their marriage Luis and Milagros worked and struggled together in various businesses and developed a very successful enterprise which allowed them and their children to live comfortably. That was until January 1st, 1959 when Fidel Castro took over control of Cuba and began the transition of moving it under the Sphere of Influence of Communist Russia. They determined that it was better to struggle abroad in Freedom and Democracy than to remain in Cuba under a Communist Regime. In March of 1960 Mamá and Papá together with their 3 children left Cuba on a never returning journey to the United States.

In the United States they settled in Tampa, Florida where Mamá began working in a tobacco factory starting her daily routine at 4:00 AM. At the end of her work day she attended an educational school at night in order to obtain business and accounting training. Once Mamá completed her courses she was able to leave the factory job and obtain a job at the accounting office of a produce distributing company and subsequently at the University of Tampa.

In the meantime Papá had a myriad of jobs while beginning his career as a life insurance agent. That led to a very successful career that permitted Papá to open his own independent life insurance agency. At that juncture Mamá came to work with Papá and remained with him for the duration as she had previously done in the early days in Cuba. They remained in Tampa until 1971 when they decided to move to Miami and brought with them Ana Maria who was still a teenager.

Mamá and Papá built a great life insurance enterprise in Miami and remained blissfully together for the rest of their lives and in 1993, celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Life could not have been better. Mamá was together with Papá the love of her life; and had seen her children develop into successful adults with excellent professional careers and beautiful families that had provided her with adorable grandchildren.

Unfortunately, on August 26th, 1997, we suffered the untimely death of Papá. Since that date Mamá remained living with Ana Maria, content but always missing her precious Chinny. For the next 23½ years Mamá lived with Ana Maria that was her companion and best friend whom, especially during the last 10 years, tended to her every need.

Mamá left us on February 25th., 2021 after living a very fruitful life of over 96 years during which she did not suffer and provided all of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren with love, care and great advise. She died peacefully and surrounded by the love of her family. She will be missed but we are all content in knowing that she is now eternally rejoicing in Heaven with her “Chinny”.

Mamá is survived by her 3 children Marta, Luis and his wife Maria Elena, and Ana Maria; her 6 grandchildren Richard and his wife Tairis, Bryan and his wife Vicky, Shirley and her husband Ricardo, Elena, Louis, and Mark and his wife Dianelys; and her 17 great grandchildren Amanda, Brandon, Karina, Ryan, Isa, Victoria, Alexandra, Isabella, Francesca and her husband Patrick, Luis, Carolina, Erin, Lauren, Mark, Mathew, Danny, Mia; and her soon to be born, great great grandchild, Andrew.

Mamá, you will be away from our sight,

But never away from our memories.

Away from our reach,

But never away from our hearts.

Because Love transcends Life