Candita Alicea Suarez

Born on December 1, 1935, in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, Candita was the beloved daughter of Augustin and Maria Alicea. In 1954, she moved to New York City, where her remarkable sewing skills first found their purpose—crafting coffin linings and later becoming a talented professional in Manhattan’s bustling garment district. Her artistry with a needle and thread came naturally, a cherished gift passed down from her mother.

In 1968, Candita and her family settled in Detroit, Michigan, where she worked for General Motors’ Fisher Body Division sewing car seats. Candita was industrious, creative, and driven.

Her home, shared with her husband Emilio, became the setting for countless holiday gatherings and family milestones. Though family dynamics were sometimes challenging, the house remained a grounding place, filled with decades of memories and tradition. Like many matriarchs, Candita held a complex role: her deep love for her family was sometimes expressed imperfectly, but it was always present.

She was a woman of enduring faith who took seriously the spiritual well-being of those she loved. As a devout Catholic, she prayed the rosary daily to keep her children and grandchildren close to God. It was a private devotion she carried out with consistency and quiet hope.

Candita had her quirks—offering Butterfingers to her grandkids, even if they didn’t like them, gifting out dated Christmas ornaments or sending unexpected “Love, Abuela (LA)” texts that always seemed to arrive at just the right moment. She had a playful side, crocheting finger puppets and tiny spaceships for the younger generations, and a creative spirit that never left her. Even in her later years, she stayed active sewing, crafting, and reading. She especially loved mystery and Irish fantasy novels, often trading books with her daughter Loyda and racing to finish them.

Candita is survived by her children: Loyda Rodriguez Childers of Rochester, MI; Aixa Rodriguez (Carlos) Torres of Attleboro, MA; Juan Rodriguez (Lisa Bardach) of Ann Arbor, MI; and Candida (Edmundas J.) Kemeza of Shelby Township, MI. She also leaves behind her grandchildren: Philip A. and Nicholas S. Childers, Pedro O. Kemeza, Emilia N. Oden, and C. Gesmani Torres; her great-grandchildren: Devin R. Childers, Tatiana L. Messier-Torres, Mikela A. Demers, Michael C. Demers, Anjelina V.,Gesmani A. and King Adonis Torres, Avery L. Childers, Mia L. Childers, Mackenzie and Harper Kemeza, Isaiah and Elias Oden; and her great-great-grandson Xavier Torres-Rodriquez