Carmen Josefina Lago Riera de Cividanes

miércoles, 16 de diciembre de 2020

Carmen Josefina Dolores (“Carmencita”) Lago Riera de Cividanes entró en reposo eterno el miércoles, 16 de diciembre de 2020. Le precedieron en la muerte sus padres, el Sr. Argimiro Lago Torrado de Villagarcía de Arosa, Pontevedra, España, y la Sra. Josefina Dolores Riera Bengoechea de San Juan, Puerto Rico, así como su hermano mayor, el Dr. José Manuel Lago Riera de Nueva Orleans, Louisiana. Le sobreviven su esposo, el Sr. Adolfo (“Tiño”) Cividanes Freiría e hijos: Dra. Carmen J. Cividanes Lago (esposo Iván Castañer Cuyar), Lcda. Marie Angelique Cividanes Lago (esposo Douglas Palmer) y Lcdo. Adolfo J. Cividanes Lago (esposa Mildred del Valle, CPA), así como su hermano, el Dr. Argimiro D. Lago Riera de Nueva Orleans, Louisiana. Nietos: Iván F. Castañer Cividanes, Carlos Adolfo Fernández Cividanes, Francisco E. Fernández Cividanes, Sofía V. Cividanes del Valle, Adolfo M. Cividanes del Valle y Estefania C. Cividanes del Valle.

De adolescente, Carmencita fue debutante en Louisiana y Puerto Rico, reina del Ball del Krewe de Prometheus en Nueva Orleans, Louisiana (1954), reina del Casino de Puerto Rico por dos años (1957 y 1958), miembro de Delta Sigma Epsilon, y destacada en numerosos periódicos y revistas de sociedad de la época. En la revista Alma Latina del 16 de febrero de 1957, se le describió de la siguiente manera:

“Llegar a ser Reina de la Fantasía, de cualquier agrupación, actividad o institución es un hecho que refleja distinción. Llegar a ser Reina de la Fantasía, pero teniendo la persona potencialidades y cualificaciones para poder ser una reina pura y verdadera, constituye no sólo una distinción, si que también un acto de reconocimiento y de verdadera justicia. Es éste el caso de la justificada y acertada elección de Carmencita Lago Riera. En Carmencita se reúnen todos los atributos que deben rodear a una soberana. Estirpe, Cultura, Bondad, Simpatía, Inteligencia, Moral. Carmencita Lago Riera, es fruto de una familia distinguidísima de la sociedad puertorriqueña, hija de don Argimiro Lago, conocido hombre de negocios de la capital y de la augusta dama doña Josefina Riera de Lago. Es nieta por el lado materno, del extinto don José Dimas Riera Y Cifuentes, filántropo y acaudalado comerciante de prosapia y de la señora Josefina Bengoechea Y Macías de Riera.”

La sencillez caracterizó a Carmencita, pero se distinguía también por su elegancia, y su guardarropa fue exquisitamente confeccionado por el diseñador Laucel de Arce. Carmencita estudió piano en el Conservatorio de Música de Nueva Orleans y también fue discípula de Maggie Van Rhyne en Puerto Rico. Su pieza favorita era la Nocturna, Op. 9, No.2, de Frederick Chopin.

Se graduó de la Academia de las Ursulinas en Nueva Orleans, Louisiana, y del Colegio Universitario del Sagrado Corazón en Santurce, Puerto Rico, con altos honores, distinciones, Summa Cum Laude y Valedictorian. Como estudiante de tercer año en las Ursulinas, ganó el primer premio de la fraternidad de química, Alpha Sigma Chi, de la Universidad de Tulane, por un ensayo sobre "Cloromycetin". Completó su Maestría en Administración Pública, con concentración en Economía, en la Universidad de Puerto Rico en Río Piedras. Era conocida por su excelencia académica y amor al estudio. Más tarde se convirtió en psicóloga en el Centro Caribeño de Estudios Postgraduados en San Juan, Puerto Rico, y trabajó en la oficina de la distinguida psicóloga, Dra. Lucy López Roig (QEPD).

Carmencita se retiró de la práctica de la psicología para disfrutar su tiempo con familiares y amigos. Durante muchos años, uno de sus pasatiempos favoritos era jugar al tenis en Dorado Beach, habiendo sido estudiante de Welby Van Horn, Nick Bollettieri y Gewan Maharaj. Entre sus amistades más preciadas se encontraban Rita y Monte Goldman (QEPD) de Boston, Massachusetts.

De las lecciones más significativas que les enseñó a sus hijos se encuentran:

"No eres mejor que nadie, pero nadie es mejor que tú",

"Nunca te rindas",

“La caridad empieza por casa”, y

“Quiero vivir mientras sea útil para mi familia y la sociedad”.

Por muchos años, Carmencita batalló mieloma múltiple, recibiendo quimioterapia hasta el final de sus días. Tal era el espíritu y la energía que irradiaba, que muchos ni sabían que Camencita tenía cáncer. Nunca se quejó ni permitió que el cáncer interrumpiera su vida, su ánimo, y su fe. Luego de luchar por muchas semanas, falleció de la secuela que ocasiona el coronavirus.

Carmencita fue una madre y abuela muy considerada y completamente desinteresada, dedicada y amorosa. Sobre todo, era una católica devota que se enorgullecía de ser una de las Hijas de María. Será recordada por su dulzura, voz suave, amabilidad, bondad, atención al detalle, aprecio, gratitud y su eterna sonrisa. La Familia desea agradecer a los médicos, enfermeras y personal del Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Hato Rey Hematology Oncology Group (HRHOG), Hospital Auxilio Mutuo (Centro de Trasplante de Médula Ósea y Centro de Cáncer) y Laboratorio Clínico Laracuente en Dorado, por su excelente atención y apoyo. En particular, la Familia agradece a: Dra. Noopur Raje, Dr. Jagmeet Singh, Dr. Joseph Betancourt, Dr. Anuj Mahindra, Dr. Jorge Perdomo Medrano (QEPD), Dr. Joel López Figueroa, Dr. Alexis Cruz Chacón, Dr. Fernando Cabanillas, Dr. Javier Morales, Dr. José Alfonso Serrano, Dr. John L. Niles, Dra. Nivia Cruz Ortiz, Dr. Bradford Shingleton, Dr. Carlos del Valle Biascochea, Dra. Ida Villa Pastor, Dr. Raúl Vila Ramírez, Dr. Enrique Ramos Umpierre, Dr. Carlos Muñoz Riera, Sra. Anne Esposito (MGH), Tecnólogo Médico Sonia Laracuente, Farmacéutico Alejandro Rivera Rodríguez y Sr. Rafael Pérez (Special Care).

"El silencio siempre acompaña a las cosas grandes". (Pórtico del Collegium A Sacro Corde, 1958)

La Familia solicita que quienes deseen expresar sus condolencias, en lugar de flores, consideren hacer una donación al Center for Multiple Myeloma Research del Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), en memoria de la vida de Carmen J. Lago Riera.

https://www.massgeneral.org/cancer-center/treatments-and-services/multiple-myeloma/

Support the Center for Multiple Myeloma - Make a gift.

o

https://www.massgeneral.org/cancer-center/treatments-and-services/multiple-myeloma/team

Uno de los poemas más queridos de Carmencita:

A Noble Boy / Somebody’s Mother, Mary Dow Brine (1878)

The woman was old and ragged and gray,

And bent with the chill of a winter's day.

The streets were white with a recent snow,

And the woman's feet with age were slow.

At the crowded crossing she waited long,

Jostled aside by the careless throng

Of human beings who passed her by,

Unheeding the glance of her anxious eye.

Down the street with laughter and shout,

Glad in the freedom of "school let out,"

Come happy boys, like a flock of sheep,

Hailing the snow piled white and deep;

Past the woman so old and gray,

Hastened the children on their way.

None offered a helping hand to her,

So weak and timid, afraid to stir,

Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet

Should trample her down in the slippery street.

At last came out of the merry troop,

The gayest boy of all the group;

He paused beside her and whispered low,

"I'll help you cross, if you wish to go."

Her aged hand on his strong young arm

She placed, and so without hurt or harm

He guided the trembling feet along,

Proud that his own were young and strong;

Then back again to his friends he went,

His young heart happy and well content.

"She's somebody's mother, boys, you know,

For all she's aged, and poor and slow;

And some one, some time, may lend a hand

To help my mother - you understand? -

If ever she's old and poor and gray,

And her own dear boy so far away."

"Somebody's mother" bowed low her head

In her home that night, and the prayer she said

Was: "God be kind to the noble boy,

Who is somebody's son and pride and joy!"

Oración a San José

¡Glorioso Patriarca San José!, animado de una gran confianza en vuestro gran valimiento, a Vos acudo para que seáis mi protector durante los días de mi destierro en este valle de lágrimas. Vuestra altísima dignidad de Padre adoptivo de mi amado Jesús hace que nada se os niegue de cuanto pidáis en el cielo. Sed mi abogado, especialísimamente en la hora de mi muerte, y alcanzadme la gracia de que mi alma, cuando se desprenda de la carne, vaya a descansar en las manos del Señor. Amén.

Oración para Pedir Protección en este Tiempo de Pandemia

Oh María,

tú resplandeces siempre en nuestro camino

como signo de salvación y de esperanza.

Nosotros nos confiamos a ti, Salud de los

enfermos, que al pie de la cruz te asociaste al

dolor de Jesús, manteniendo firme tu fe.

Oh Madre amorosa,

tú sabes lo que necesitamos

y estamos seguros de que proveerás,

como lo hiciste en Caná de Galilea.

Intercede por nosotros ante tu Hijo Jesús,

el Divino Médico,

por aquellos que han enfermado,

por quienes son más vulnerables

y por quienes han muerto.

Intercede también por quienes cargan la

responsabilidad de proteger la salud

y seguridad de los demás y por quienes

atienden al enfermo y buscan una cura.

Ayúdanos, Madre del Divino Amor,

a conformarnos a la voluntad del Padre

y a hacer lo que nos dirá Jesús,

quien ha tomado sobre sí nuestros

sufrimientos y ha cargado con

nuestros dolores para conducirnos,

a través de la Cruz,

a la alegría de la Resurrección. Amén.

Bajo tu amparo nos acogemos, santa Madre de Dios; no desprecies las súplicas que te dirigimos en nuestras necesidades, antes bien líbranos de todo peligro ¡Oh Virgen gloriosa y bendita! Amén.

Adaptada de la oración del Papa Francisco, Caballeros de Colón

(English Version)

Carmen Josefina Dolores (“Carmencita”) Lago Riera de Cividanes entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, December 16, 2020. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. Argimiro Lago Torrado of Villagarcía de Arosa, Pontevedra, Spain, and Mrs. Josefina Dolores Riera Bengoechea of San Juan, Puerto Rico, as well as by her eldest brother, Dr. Joseph Manuel Lago Riera of New Orleans, Louisiana. She is survived by her husband, Mr. Adolfo (“Tiño”) Cividanes Freiría, and children: Dr. Carmen J. Cividanes Lago (husband Iván Castañer Cuyar), Mrs. Marie Angelique Cividanes Lago, Esq. (husband Douglas Palmer), and Mr. Adolfo J. Cividanes Lago, Esq. (wife Mildred del Valle, CPA), as well as by her brother, Dr. Argimiro D. Lago Riera of New Orleans, Louisiana. Grandchildren: Iván F. Castañer Cividanes, Carlos Adolfo Fernández Cividanes, Francisco E. Fernández Cividanes, Sofía V. Cividanes del Valle, Adolfo M. Cividanes del Valle, and Estefania C. Cividanes del Valle.

As an adolescent, Carmencita was a debutante in Louisiana and Puerto Rico, queen of the Ball of Krewe of Prometheus in New Orleans, Louisiana (1954), queen of the Casino of Puerto Rico for two years (1957 and 1958), Delta Sigma Epsilon member, and featured in many society newspapers and magazines of the time. In the February 16, 1957 issue of Alma Latina magazine, she was described in the following manner:

“Becoming Queen of Fantasy, of any group, activity or institution is a fact that reflects distinction. Becoming Queen of Fantasy, but having the person potentialities and qualifications to be a pure and true queen, constitutes not only a distinction, but also an act of recognition and true justice. This is the case of the justified and correct election of Carmencita Lago Riera. In Carmencita, all the attributes that should surround a sovereign come together. Lineage, Culture, Goodness, Sympathy, Intelligence, Morality. Carmencita Lago Riera, is the fruit of a very distinguished family of Puerto Rican society, daughter of Don Argimiro Lago, a well-known businessman from the capital, and of the honorable lady Mrs. Josefina Riera de Lago. On the maternal side, she is the granddaughter of the late Don José Dimas Riera Y Cifuentes, philanthropist and prosperous businessman of lineage, and of Mrs. Josefina Bengoechea Y Macías de Riera.”

Simplicity characterized Carmencita, but she was also known for her elegance and her wardrobe was exquisitely tailored by designer Laucel de Arce. Carmencita studied piano at the New Orleans Conservatory of Music and was also the disciple of Maggie Van Rhyne in Puerto Rico. Her favorite piece was Frederick Chopin’s Nocturne, Op.9, No.2.

She graduated from Ursuline Academy in New Orleans, Louisiana, and University College of the Sacred Heart in Santurce, Puerto Rico, with high honours, distinctions, Summa Cum Laude, and Valedictorian. As a junior at Ursuline, she won first prize from Tulane University’s Alpha Sigma Chi chemistry fraternity for an essay on “Chloromycetin”. She completed her Master of Public Administration, with concentration in Economics, at the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras. She was known for her academic excellence and love of study. She later became a psychologist at the Caribbean Center for Advanced Studies in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and worked at the office of the distinguished psychologist, Dr. Lucy López Roig (RIP).

Carmencita retired from the practice of psychology to enjoy her time with family and friends. For many years, one of her favorite pastimes was playing tennis at Dorado Beach, having been a student of Welby Van Horn, Nick Bollettieri, and Gewan Maharaj. Amongst her treasured friends were Rita and Monte Goldman (RIP) of Boston, Massachusetts.

Of the most significant lessons taught to her children are:

“You are no better than anyone else, but no one is better than you”,

“Never Give Up”,

“Charity begins at home”, and

“I want to live as long as I am useful to my family and society”.

For many years, Carmencita battled multiple myeloma, receiving chemotherapy until the end. Such was the spirit and energy that she radiated, that many did not even know that Camencita had cancer. She never complained or allowed cancer to disrupt her life, spirit, and faith. After struggling for many weeks, she passed away from the aftermath caused by the coronavirus.

Carmencita was a very caring, completely selfless, devoted, and loving mother and grandmother. Above all, she was a devout Catholic who was proud of being part of the group Daughters of Mary. She will be remembered for her sweetness, soft spokenness, kindness, goodness, attention to detail, appreciation, gratitud, and eternal smile. The Family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Hato Rey Hematology Oncology Group (HRHOG), Auxilio Mutuo Hospital (Bone Marrow Transplant Center and Cancer Center), and Laracuente Clinical Laboratory in Dorado, for their excellent care and support. In particular, the Family is grateful to Dr. Noopur Raje, Dr. Jagmeet Singh, Dr. Joseph Betancourt, Dr. Anuj Mahindra, Dr. Jorge Perdomo Medrano (RIP), Dr. Joel López Figueroa, Dr. Alexis Cruz Chacón, Dr. Fernando Cabanillas, Dr. Javier Morales, Dr. José Alfonso Serrano, Dr. John L. Niles, Dr. Nivia Cruz Ortiz, Dr. Bradford Shingleton, Dr. Carlos del Valle Biascochea, Dr. Ida Villa Pastor, Dr. Raúl Vila Ramírez, Dr. Enrique Ramos Umpierre, Dr. Carlos Muñoz Riera, Mrs. Anne Esposito (MGH), Medical Technologist Sonia Laracuente, Pharmacist Alejandro Rivera Rodríguez, and Mr. Rafael Pérez (Special Care).

"Silence always accompanies great things." (Collegium A Sacro Corde’s Portico, 1958)

The Family requests that those who wish to express sympathy, in lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to the Center for Multiple Myeloma Research at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), in memory of Carmen J. Lago Riera’s life.

https://www.massgeneral.org/cancer-center/treatments-and-services/multiple-myeloma/

Support the Center for Multiple Myeloma - Make a gift.

or

https://www.massgeneral.org/cancer-center/treatments-and-services/multiple-myeloma/team

One of Carmencita’s most beloved poems:

A Noble Boy / Somebody’s Mother, Mary Dow Brine (1878)

The woman was old and ragged and gray,

And bent with the chill of a winter's day.

The streets were white with a recent snow,

And the woman's feet with age were slow.

At the crowded crossing she waited long,

Jostled aside by the careless throng

Of human beings who passed her by,

Unheeding the glance of her anxious eye.

Down the street with laughter and shout,

Glad in the freedom of "school let out,"

Come happy boys, like a flock of sheep,

Hailing the snow piled white and deep;

Past the woman so old and gray,

Hastened the children on their way.

None offered a helping hand to her,

So weak and timid, afraid to stir,

Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet

Should trample her down in the slippery street.

At last came out of the merry troop,

The gayest boy of all the group;

He paused beside her and whispered low,

"I'll help you cross, if you wish to go."

Her aged hand on his strong young arm

She placed, and so without hurt or harm

He guided the trembling feet along,

Proud that his own were young and strong;

Then back again to his friends he went,

His young heart happy and well content.

"She's somebody's mother, boys, you know,

For all she's aged, and poor and slow;

And some one, some time, may lend a hand

To help my mother - you understand? -

If ever she's old and poor and gray,

And her own dear boy so far away."

"Somebody's mother" bowed low her head

In her home that night, and the prayer she said

Was: "God be kind to the noble boy,

Who is somebody's son and pride and joy!"

Prayer to Saint Joseph

Glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph!, animated with great confidence in your great courage, I turn to You so that you may be my protector during the days of my exile in this valley of tears. Your highest dignity as the adopted Father of my beloved Jesus means that nothing is denied to you of what you ask in heaven. Be my advocate, especially in the hour of my death, and grant me the grace that my soul, when it is detached from the flesh, goes to rest in the hands of the Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Protection in this Time of Pandemic

O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.

We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick.

At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain,

with steadfast faith.

You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need.

We are certain that you will provide, so that,

as you did at Cana of Galilee,

joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.

Help us, Mother of Divine Love,

to conform ourselves to the Father’s will

and to do what Jesus tells us:

He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us,

through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.

We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.

Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.

Adapted from the prayer of Pope Francis, Knights of Columbus