Eneida B. Guernica

She was born to the late Rogelio Barrios and Olympia Cano, May 19, 1925, in Habana, Cuba. She married the late Alberto Guernica de Roux in July 4, 1945. They lived together in Cuba for nearly 16 years until they immigrated to the US in 1961, leaving their homes behind in Cuba in order to escape the tyrannical communist regime of the Castros. Eneida is survived by her three children: Alberto Guernica, Irma Rosa Guernica Becerra and Eduardo Antonio Guernica. She is also survived by 4 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren: Eduardo Alberto Guernica, Krystin Guernica, Icela Marliese Guernica, Elvis Dante Guernica, Giulia Rose Guernica and Samuel Eduardo Guernica.

Eneida, also known as “Cuqui” to her family and close friends, loved classical music at a very young age. In Cuba as a talented concert pianist, she was offered a scholarship to Juilliard School in New York City. Although her father did not allow her to accept the scholarship, Eneida turned to education and in Cuba started her own kindergarten school and used her love of music to teach children. Later she developed her own techniques using musical therapy to help children with physical and cognitive disabilities. In 1956, while continuing to work with kids with learning disabilities, she attended the University of Villanueva, in Cuba, and continued her studies in Psychology.

In 1961, in the midst of migrating to the US and establishing a new home with her husband and three children, Eneida began to work in the Dade County Public Schools as a Cuban Aide. She helped with the influx of Cuban children to the US in assimilating to their new surroundings, language and culture. Despite her full-time work and taking care of her family, she continued her studies where she re-certified as a Psychologist in Florida. She continued to study until she earned a doctorate degree in educational psychology from Florida International University. She retired from the Dade County Public School system as a school psychologist after 25 years but her work didn’t end there. She began and directed the “Bi-lingual Educational Center” a school which helped kids with learning disabilities in a bi-lingual setting. Based on her experiences with Cuban and other Hispanic children migrating to the US she wrote two books on the subject: “Los Ninos Cubanos en el Exilio y sus Familias” and a cognitive study called “PRAM”. Eneida continued her practice as a clinical and educational psychologist and retired at the age of 83.

Despite all of her tireless work and the many children and families that she helped throughout her life, her love and support of her family and children was always present and never wavering. Her children and grandchildren enjoy a close family relationship today because of her endless sacrifices for our wellbeing. She will always be lovingly remembered until the day we join her.

Viewing ceremony and church services will be held on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 5PM at the Rivero Caballero funeral home of little Havana.