Ohilda R. Cabrera

Ohilda Rodriguez Borges was born on March 10, 1935. Yep, a different date than in your program. Her legal year in the US was 1937. She was born in Yaguaramas, Cuba, to Manuel and Elisa Rodriguez y Borges. She has 10 brothers and sisters and grew up on a farm that her brothers tended…mostly sugar cane. Mom was fortunate to meet Methodist missionaries and they connected her with the Thomas family from Grand Rapids, Michigan. This gave her the opportunity to continue her education (and English). She graduated from both high school and junior college in Grand Rapids.

Ohilda returned to Cuba and then became a flight attendant for the Cuban Airlines. She met several dignitaries during her time with the airline. This is where she met her husband, our father, Luis Hernandez y Cabrera who worked for Delta Air Lines. They married in March of 1960.

Since this was a period of unrest in Cuba, my mother escaped Cuba with Ohilda Luisa Hernandez y Cabrera in March of 1961. Luis escaped later that year after assisting many other Cubans leave Cuba. They settled for a brief time in Miami, but then came to Orlando, as Delta Air Lines provided a job for him.

Ohilda then had two more children, Luis Hernandez Cabrera and Susana Hernandez Cabrera. She raised her children and was the translator for her brothers who emigrated to Orlando, who did not speak English. Lastly because the Thomas’ took her in, she felt the need to open her home to a foreign exchange student. Francois Clinet came into our family while Susie was in high school and is a proud part of our family.

Ohilda worked at several different jobs including Real Estate Agent, Customer Service Representative at Walt Disney World and then finally back in the airline industry with Piedmont/US Air. She continued to utilize her bilingual skills at each position she held.

Ohilda had a strong faith that led her to always serve her family first and then others. Those included the Edgewood Police Department, Orange County Fire Department, her neighbors and so many others. As you all know, baking was her passion. FYI, not cooking, but baking. She supplied cakes, cookies and her famous friendship bread to all. Besides baking sports, especially baseball, was her other love. She had wonderful memories watching games.

Ohilda is predeceased by her husband Luis Cabrera, 7 brothers and sisters. She is survived by her children Ohilda (Don), Luis (Devonna), and Susie, grandchildren, Lauren Cabrera (Michael), Daniel Washburn (Vanessa), Christopher Washburn and Kristen Cabrera and so many nieces and nephews.

Memorial:

Memorial gifts may be given in memory of Ohilda Cabrera to

St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital

https://www.stjude.org/