Feb. 3, 1926 to May 5, 2018
In The Holy Glory of Our Lord
Maria Josefa Dominguez was born on February 3, 1926 in Cuba to her Cuban mother, Maria Tamayo, and Spanish born businessman father, Eladio Gonzalez. She had 4 sisters and two brothers with one sister still living. Maria Gonzalez grew up with her family in Victoria De Las Tunas, Oriente, Cuba where she graduated from college at the Ministerio de Educacion and became a school teacher.
In 1953 she married the love of her life Dr. Antonio E. Dominguez. Maria and Antonio Dominguez built a successful chain of pharmacies both in Cuba and then later also in the United States. In Cuba, they started a family of five boys and one girl: Andres, Tony, Juan, Eddie, Carlos, and Bessie. The family of eight fled the oppressive dictatorship in communist Cuba in 1967 and settled in Los Angeles, California where Antonio and Maria raised all of their six children.
Antonio and Maria overcame much adversity and financial hardships both in Cuba after the take-over of a communist dictatorship in 1959, as well as here in the United States. In 1967, they arrived as refugees with the barest personal possessions to begin their lives anew in Los Angeles. Antonio and Maria had to promptly learn English and start from scratch with six young kids in tow while struggling to make a living performing menial jobs. Through an incredible amount of personal sacrifices throughout many years, she and her husband not only overcame great odds to become highly successful in their own right, but also raised six first-generation children with successful careers of their own.
Her pharmacist husband, Antonio Enrique Dominguez, of almost 60 years passed away in 2010. Maria and Antonio are survived by all their six children, nineteen Grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Maria Josefa Dominguez was a very beautiful, classy, cheerful, strong, independent, intuitive, smart, resourceful, energetic, hardworking, giving and caring mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and individual. She was also a devout catholic.
In her 92 years, she lived a very full and joyful life, including extensive travels with her husband throughout many countries around the world where she collected many local artifacts, took many photos and videos and shared many wonderful memories with her family. She also left countless enjoyable memories in countless family gatherings and celebrations over the years.
She much enjoyed traveling, gardening, conversing, music, dancing, reading, cooking, caring for animals and, above all, always staying busy. She was a deeply committed “family first” mother of good values, that lived by example giving her children an empowering and guiding moral compass to live a full and happy life.
She also never forgot any of her kid’s birthdays, nor grandchildren’s birthdays and took particular time and care to find an appropriate gift and birthday card which she personalized with her most sincere, thoughtful, and touching words. She did this without fail even in her 90s or when she was not in the best of health. She truly enjoyed being a giver. With her intuitive nature as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother she always provided good, sound counsel and valuable advice with life’s challenges. Her infectious smile and laughter and her caring personality will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Though we are deeply saddened by our loss, we are eternally blessed, honored and grateful by her having given us life, by having the privilege and pleasure of knowing her, by having learned so much from her, for receiving her unconditional love and company, and for the fruits we have harvested from following her guidance, example and wisdom. We are the beneficiaries of her loving sacrifices and her radiant grace. We forever love you mom, grandma, great-grandma. May she rest in peace in the Holy Glory of our Lord and may she live forever in our hearts and minds. Amen!
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