Margarita Monserrate Bauza-Salas Greene

Margarita was born in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico on November 21, 1931 to the late Juan Bauza-Ripoll and the late Candin Salas-Arce. The oldest of three children, she was preceded in death by her sister, Tinda Vazquez-Bauza (Angel), her brother, Juan Bauza-Salas (Lila), and by the love of her life, the late Robert Charles Greene of Folsom and New Orleans, LA. They married on August 22, 1953 and had four children: John Robert Greene (Patti), Carmen Maria Griffin (Taylor), Susan Margaret Gorman (Ray), and Edward Emile Greene (Kellie); two grandchildren, Timothy David Griffin (Chelsea), and Benjamin John Gorman (Kit); three step-grandchildren, Michelle Marie Lynch (Jody), Lori Ann Rowe (Mark), and David Stephen Derbes, Jr. (Tracy); and 10 great-grandchildren.

Margarita (known to her children and grands as Mia) passed away in Mandeville, LA on June 16, 2026. She was an amazing woman who raised four children, went back to college in her 40s, received a BA from UNO and an MSW from Tulane University. Bilingual, she worked as a social worker until her retirement, despite having lost most of her hearing as a result of auditory nerve damage from radioactive treatment for Grave’s disease. This progressive hearing loss likely contributed to the dementia that framed her later years. And, yet, despite the dementia, she still retained her spark and her beautiful smile. She knew her children until the end. She was wicked smart, fierce, sensitive, loving, headstrong, creative, and taught her children that a person should be judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin even before Dr. King did so. She will be well, and truly, missed.

The time, and location, of services have not yet been determined. Should you wish to honor her memory, the family asks that you spend time and/or money on the charitable organization of your choosing.