Angelita Mair

Out of the rich and mineral laden soil of Clarendon, the third child and youngest daughter of Gabriel and Julia Leiba was born on July 20, 1934 in Cupits, Jamaica.

Angelita’s name draws on the Cuban/ Spanish roots of her father Gabriel and means “little angel”. Her name foretold her destiny. While attending Westwood High School, an all-girl’s boarding school in Trelawnly, Jamaica, Angie was allowed to assist the school nurse and mirror and model her activities sparking a lifelong gift of holistically caring for people.

Her passion eventually convinced her reluctant father to allow his young adult daughter to attend nursing school in Kent, England in 1955. She thrived in the United Kingdom (UK) gaining invaluable experience applying the high caliber training she received in Kent to the residents in the neighboring communities.

Angie returned to Jamaica in 1960 and began working with Dr. A.L. McFarlane in Kingston. Prime Minister Sir Donald Sangster was a patient of Dr. McFarlane and when he became ill and was rushed to the Montreal Neurological Institute in Canada on March 20, 1967 for treatment, Angie was the only nurse to accompany the team of elite physicians on the special jet flight arranged by the United States Ambassador to Jamaica.

Lured by the immigrant bug of the United States, Angie moved to New York City and worked at the prestigious: The New York Hospital / Cornell Medical Center. By 1974 she joined the Visiting Nurse Services and became a respected fixture in Parkchester, a PUD (Planned Unit Development) in the Bronx with residents monitoring her car and putting coins in the meter when her visits overstayed the allotted time.

Angie met Oswald Mair and married in 1974, welcoming their only child Andrew Mair in 1975. The family moved to the Sunshine State in 1991 where she continued her Visiting Nursing before retiring from formal nursing in 1997 but assuming the mantel of the Family Nurse for aging family and friends for the remainder of her life.

Angie was predeceased by her parents, her husband Oswald Mair of 44 years and her sister Phyllis Mucci and her brother Gabriel Leiba Jr. Angie is survived by her son Andrew Mair, daughter in law Carla Mair, their four children Gabriel, Zona, Lucas and Maxwell, stepson Oswald Mair Jr. and wife Jayne Mair. She is also cherished by many nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601, or online at https://www.alz.org.