Felisa Estrella Benedit

Felisa Estrella Benedit, 90, died peacefully at the Terrace of Woodstock, Ga. Memory Care residence on April 5, 2011. She was born in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, on January 20, 1921. A devoted wife and mother, Felisa was predeceased by her beloved husband, Guido Benedit and son, Eduardo Benedit. Survivors include two sons: Guido Benedit and wife Nancy and William Benedit and wife Dara; grandchildren: Eddie Jr. Benedit, Nicole Benedit, Eric Benedit, Brian Benedit, Michelle Pierce, Emily Benedit, and Laura Benedit; one great-grandchild: Liam Pierce.

BIOGRAPHY:

Felisa (Estrella) Gracias Pena- born January 20 1921 in Snacti Spiritus Cuba, one of the seven original cities founded by the Spanish in 1514.

Our mother was born days after her family arrived in Cuba aboard a steam ship from Spain; her nickname of “Estrella” was given to her by the captain of the vessel since it was thought she would be born at sea. Estrella (Star) “she should be named Estrella which it is the guiding star used by mariners” and how appropriate, she was our guiding star. Her father Francisco Gracia of Spain, and mother Dolores Pena of Spain purchased a farm near this old colonial city of Snacti Spiritus by recommendation of a doctor since one of her siblings was suffering from asthma, and the tropical weather would help. There her father dug a well by hand in an area where there was no fresh water found for miles around, but he found it. She had two brothers, Pepe, Paco and her sister Lola who she loved dearly.

It was in Snacti Spiritus where by accident she met Guido Simeon Benedit from Santiago de Cuba who also was of Spanish descent, yes I said by accident because there had been a bus accident in Snacti Spiritus bound for Havana by the highway close to where mother lived and she was there seen the horror of this accident when this “handsome” young man approached her and told her that he was scheduled to travel on that bus but missed it and had to take the next bus to Havana.

Mother moved to Havana after finishing school to practice her sewing skills, one of the traits she learned from her mother. There, she reunited with Guido where he worked as a tailor at the BENEDIT Y HERMANOS (Benedit brothers) formal wear store. And the rest is history.

She married Guido, in March of 1947 in Havana. They lived in El Cerro village during the time my brother Eddie and I were born.

Mother helped with the fitting of wedding gowns at the ladies store. Mom and Dad got large order for the fabrication for uniforms for the Cubana Aviasion ( Cubana Airlines) a contract facilitated by the oldest of the Benedit brothers, Manolo, who worked for the airlines. From this venture in 1954 they were able to save enough money to build a modest home in the Reparto Casino Deportivo Havana.

My mother was very creative. She would visit the “El Encanto”, a department store like Macys in Havana, and with me at hand, I watched my mother looking in at the latest style dresses displayed in the windows and sketching them on a tablet. Then she would make one for herself and duplicates for my aunts and for customers she had in the subdivision where we lived. I spent a lot of time with Mother helping her making the belts, buckle, and buttons for the dresses, I learned the math tables, as well as many of her favorite’s songs. My reward was a piece of chocolate bar she kept hidden in the hutch behind the plates.

In 1960 my brother Guillermo, (Willie) was born, “one of the children of the revolution” from Castro’s success overthrowing the dictator Batista.

In 1962 my brother Eddie and I left Cuba for the USA to live with my aunt and uncle Molina in Atlanta. This was the most painful time for my mother and father having been separated from us for two years.

In 1964, we reunited here and lived in Atlanta and except for a short time when Mom and Dad tested the waters in Miami, they returned and we set our roots here. Dad worked in some of the most famous restaurant in Atlanta like, The Fountain Blue restaurant, The Coach and Six Restaurant, The Ambassador Restaurant, and Fan and Bills Restaurant. Dad worked long hours, and Mother with her skills and experience as a seamstress worked for J.P. Allen, Saks Fifth Avenue, and retired from Neiman-Marcus, she received many awards and recognitions for her work there.

From my mother’s savings (profit share) my parents opened Havana Sandwich Shop in 1976, which provided them a comfortable living traveling the world and later they retired to Miami Florida, but kept a home here close to us.

Mother was the family’s glue and support system. She believed in the power of positive thinking. When things just didn’t go right, her favorite phrase was “there is no bad that some good will come from it”. She was our rock and I will miss her dearly.

We love you Mom, say hello to Eddie and Dad.