Ana Lilia Gonzalez

With a servant’s heart, Ana lived her life in the service of others, always putting those she loved first. Being a caregiver and protector was the hallmark of her motherhood. She was a beautifully rare human being whose life was centered around the love and care of family. She loved unconditionally and spent her life creating a beautiful home filled with love, memories, laughter and, of course, her wonderful Cuban cooking.

Ana was born in 1938 in the countryside town of Perea, in the province of Las Villas, Cuba, to Ismaela and Armando Alvarez. She grew up with her older sister, Aurora, and her brothers, Abraham and Renesio, before later moving to Havana.

Ana married Tomas Gonzalez on October 10, 1958, in Havana, and together they began building their family. They welcomed three sons, Tomas Jr., Carlos and Jorge, while still living in Cuba.

Seeking freedom and the opportunity to build a new life for their family, Ana and Tomas made the difficult decision to leave Cuba. After multiple attempts, the family was granted permission to leave through the Special Cuban Migration Program, commonly known as the Freedom Flights. In 1970, they immigrated to the United States with their three young sons and with their daughter soon to be born. Their daughter, Maggie, completed the family after their arrival in the United States.

Ana was smart, strong and hardworking, with an extraordinary mind for numbers. She was the family’s resident math whiz and worked for many years at C&S Bank in the check-processing department, often working the night shift while raising her children. Later, she spent more than three decades managing the warranty department for United Television, working closely with their partners the Berenguer family. Her gift with numbers, attention to detail and dependability made her someone people could always count on.

But her greatest joy was always her family.

Sunday dinners were a cherished tradition in the Gonzalez home and perhaps the best example of what family meant to Ana. They could easily last three or four hours as everyone ate, talked, laughed, shared what was happening in their lives and simply enjoyed being together. Ana loved every minute of it.

A wonderful Cuban cook, Ana showed so much of her love through food. But those Sunday dinners were about far more than what she served. They were about bringing her family together, staying connected, sharing their lives and creating memories and traditions that would last for generations. Around Ana’s table, everyone belonged.

Her four children and the families they created meant everything to her: Tomas Jr. and Noni Gonzalez, Carlos and Ginny Gonzalez, Jorge and Gina Gonzalez, and Jason and Maggie Hoback.

Ana’s grandchildren held an especially precious place in her heart: Amanda Hart, CJ Gonzalez, Cameron Gonzalez, Nina Gonzalez, Reese DeWitt, Reagan Hoback and Riley Hoback. She was enormously proud of them and delighted as the family grew again to include three great-grandchildren- Hayley Hart, James Hart and Liam Gonzalez .

Ana had a special way of making everyone who became part of her family feel as though they had always belonged. She was extraordinarily selfless, usually worrying far more about what everyone else needed than about herself. Her generosity, concern for others and countless quiet acts of love will be remembered by everyone fortunate enough to have known and loved her.

Her faith was an important part of who she was and remained a source of strength throughout her life. She lived that faith in many of the simplest and most meaningful ways—through devotion to her family, caring for others and consistently putting the people she loved before herself.

Ana was preceded in death by her husband, Tomas Gonzalez, who passed away in 2016, and her beloved granddaughter, Reagan Hoback who passed away May of this year.

Family was truly Ana’s greatest legacy. Through her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her legacy continues in a large family filled with traditions, laughter, stories and love.

Ana will be deeply missed, but those who loved her will carry forward the lessons she lived every day: take care of one another, put family first, make sure everyone has enough to eat, laugh often, and never underestimate the importance of sitting around a table together for a little longer than anyone planned.