Almayra Guadalupe Cadby-Shashaty

Almayra, lovingly known as Lupita, was born on July 24, 1931, in Comayagüela, Honduras, to Don Samuel Da Costa Gomez and Consuelo Membreño. One of five sisters, she grew up in a large extended family in Honduras before venturing to the United States to study at the University of Montana, Missoula.

A lifelong educator, she earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and Spanish in 1957 and later obtained a master’s degree in Spanish Literature in 1970. There she also met her first husband, Paul Howard Cadby. Their mutual passion for education took them around the world, first settling down in El Salvador where their children Iris and Carol were born. They worked as educators at schools in California, El Salvador, Honduras, Montana, Florida, Jamaica, and Guatemala. Lupita was a teacher and librarian and Howard a teacher and school principal. She also worked as a Spanish-English simultaneous translator.

Lupita later met her second husband, Raymond Shashaty, in Miami, Florida. They married on July 9, 1993, and shared 28 wonderful years together, living in Miami and The Villages until his passing on March 19, 2023.

Lupita had "chispa" – a zest for life – and a warm and memorable smile. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, gourmet cooking, hosting parties and dancing, and golf. Curious and adventurous, Lupita was an avid reader and traveler, always eager to explore new cultures and ideas. She delighted in nurturing her orchids, a reflection of her patience and love of beauty.

In her final years, she resided in Arlington, Virginia, where she remained close to her daughters. A loving mother and grandmother, she leaves behind a legacy of positivity, resilience, and a love for learning that will continue to inspire her family and those who knew her.

She is survived by a younger sister, Iris Da Costa Gomez; her daughters, Iris Ioffreda and Carol Cadby; her son-in-law, Angelo Ioffreda; and her cherished grandchildren: Francesca Ioffreda and her husband Joe Sakran, Christopher Ioffreda and his wife Kelly Lau-Kee, Ariel Cadby-Spicer, and Nicholas Cadby.

Her family will honor her life with a Celebration of Life memorial service at Murphy Funeral Home in Arlington VA, on Saturday April 12th, 2025 where loved ones and friends will gather to celebrate her remarkable journey. The service will be live streamed from 1:00pm-3:00pm EST. Please find the link in the service posted below.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Reading is Fundamental or the American Library Association, links cane be found below.