Celia Perdomo Lescano

Celia Perdomo Lescano, 82, died peacefully on January 31st , 2020 at Suncoast Hospice Care Center, Saint Petersburg, Florida. Mrs. Lescano was born in Havana, Cuba to the late Jose Enrique and Celia Perdomo (Gutierrez).

She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Javier Antonio Lescano. Mrs. Lescano is survived by a sister: Marta Perdomo Alday (Gonzalo); her 6 children and their spouses: Javier (Sue), Maria (Jean Willey), Pepe (Stacy), Carlos (Diana), Celia (Josh Bickford), and Bibi (Larry Williams); 10 grandchildren, to whom she was known as Abuelita: John Lescano (Megan), Alex Lescano, Rachel Lescano, Nicole Lescano, Max Lescano, Katie Lescano, Justin Lescano, Matthew Lescano, Maya Bickford, and Jackson Bickford; a great-grandson: Jack Lescano; and 4 nieces and nephews and 13 great nieces and nephews, to whom she was known as Tia.

Mrs. Lescano spent her early years in Cuba, where she attended the American-run Ruston Academy, and traveled the world with her parents and sister. She met the love of her life when she was 14 and they married on December 8th, 1957 at the Capilla de Belen, where her husband attended school. She graduated from the University of Havana and worked at the Biblioteca Nacional in Havana until the regime change, when she courageously left her entire family behind to secure a life of freedom for her 2-year-old son in the United States.

After arriving in the US in 1961, she worked for many years typing students’ dissertations and doing professional translations, while her husband attended the University of Florida. She subsequently worked for almost 30 years as a Product Distribution Manager/Latin America and the Caribbean for Massey-Ferguson/AGCO in Fort Lauderdale, FL and Duluth, GA, before retiring with her husband to Gainesville, Florida, where she lived until a few years after his death. In Fort Lauderdale, she was an active member of Saint Jerome Parish, where her children attended school. On the weekends, she could be found barbecuing and lounging at the beach with her family. Even with 6 children at home and a full-time job, she had dinner on the table every night; she was the consummate Super-Mom. During her retirement in Gainesville, she enjoyed attending Gator sporting events, socializing with her long-time Cuban friends, and tending to her rose garden.

For the past 10 years she lived in Saint Petersburg, where she enjoyed attending Coffee Concerts at the Mahaffey Theater, enjoying sunsets in Pass-A-Grille, scrapbooking with her friends at Addington Place at College Harbor, watching Hallmark movies, attending Sunday Mass at Saint John Vianney Catholic Church, watching her grandchildren in their school and athletic activities and, above all, spending time with her large family—she hated to miss a party.

One of the greatest gifts she gave her family prior to her passing was a very detailed directive for her funeral arrangements, stopping short of writing this obituary herself. In accord with her wishes, a Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Sunday, February 9th, 2020 at 2pm at Saint John Vianney Catholic Church, 445 82nd Avenue, Saint Pete Beach, FL., with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution to the Lescano Family Scholarship at Saint John Vianney Catholic School which, according to her wishes, will provide need-based tuition assistance to local families. Please send contributions to Saint John Vianney Catholic Church, 445 82nd Avenue, Saint Pete Beach, FL., 33706. An Interment Ceremony will be held in Gainesville, FL at a later date.