Maria del Carmen Cantero

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of the matriarch of the Cantero family. Maria del Carmen Cantero, “Carmita” age 89, widow of Arnaldo Cantero Sr., born in Habana, Cuba on May 31,1933, Carmita peacefully transcended into heaven from her home on Sunday, May 21, 2023, in Tampa, Florida.

Maria del Carmen (affectionally known as “Abuela”) was a woman of faith, strength, and boundless love for her family. Leaving her beloved country behind, she fearlessly embarked on a journey to a foreign country for a better life for her family. Family was the center of her being. She helped anyone she could, however she could. A second mother to many. To know Abuela was to love her. She was the life of every party, lighting up every room she entered. With a rosary always in her hand, her deeply rooted faith in God was the guiding light in her life. Abuela loved to cook her Cuban delicacies for her friends and family. Her special flan was a treasure to those fortunate enough to taste it. In addition to her cooking skills, Abuela had a green thumb and found peace tending to her plants in her garden. Many boo-boos were healed by her beloved aloe plants. She was cherished by many, and her absence will be deeply felt. Her wisdom and poetic soul will forever reside within our hearts.

She is survived by her beloved sons, Arnaldo Jr. and Jorge, loving grandchildren- Janna, Arnaldo III, Jorge II, Jesse, and Valentina- and her great grandchildren- Joey, Jayla, Keilani, and Mikaela. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Flavia, her goddaughter-Debbie, and her twin sister, Maria Antonia.

We kindly invite you to honor her memory by sharing photos, memories, or sending flowers in her honor. She loved Gardenias for their beauty and perfume fragrance. The funeral will be a private ceremony with only close family members present.