Corazon "Cora" Madrazo

How do you sum up a woman’s lifetime in just one paragraph? How do you summarize her life as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great, great-grandmother in just a few words?

Corazon, or “Cora” as she was called, was our beautiful mother and was like her name, “ALL Heart.” She was also intelligent, strong, honest, determined, courageous, and most of all, perseverant! Mom always had hope in her heart.

She was industrious, creative, inquisitive and full of life! She never stopped! At her late age of 94 and a half, you would catch her crocheting in her sleep!

In 1945 after the Liberation at the end of WWII, and after witnessing the tragedies of war first-hand, Corazon picked up her bags and moved to Paris with her aunt Cheche and her grandmother Mame, to finish her secondary education and get her high school diploma. Although her parents were from Spain, she had been born in France and wanted to return there.

In 1947 at the age of 16, Corazon now the oldest of six siblings -- Manolo, Amor, Marco Antonio, Jose Luis and Tito Livio Madrazo -- picked-up her bags again to join her parents, Manuel Madrazo-Piniero and Victoria Maria Perez-Madrazo aboard the ship, “La Columbine” to Venezuela, S.A.

She fell in love quickly at age 17 with a young Venezuelan, Lieutenant Henry Moises Castro. A year later they were married and had four children: Ambar Maria, Henry Jose, Edgar Manuel, and Dafne Maria Castro-Madrazo.

At the age of 32, after a difficult separation from our father, Corazon again picked up her bags and bravely decided to travel with her four children and two suitcases, across the ocean once again to the United States. It was August 27, 1964, when she landed in Washington D.C. looking for a new life for us. She did not look back and just went forth determined to succeed. She knew that she could speak two languages and that was important enough. We attended St. Thomas Apostle School in Washington, D.C. while she took English, Shorthand and typing classes. In less than a year she had a job as a Documents Specialist at the Organization of American States translating French and Spanish documents.

Her perseverance served as a great example of determination and self-development for us. That and our working together as a family to learn a new language and adjust to a new country strengthened us and we became a close-knit family. From all her life experiences at her still young age, she taught us to be independent and caring and compassionate toward others. We also learned to work hard and set goals.

Mom taught us well and always provided a place in our home for friends to visit from afar and a seat at our table for anybody in need. She was an excellent cook and always told us about the miracles of Jesus in the Bible when he fed 5,000 people with two fish and five loaves of bread. She said her food would multiply, and to just “add water to the soup, we have guests!”

Our Home at Christmas was filled with joy, family, friends and any people who were alone. They quickly learned they could come and be welcomed at any special occasion.

Her faith was immense! Her trust in God unbreakable! It was part of her DNA. Pray first and always bless your children! To this day, our children will not leave the house without Yaya’s Blessing. We were her Life!

She dedicated her life to raising us and always made us feel safe because of her great faith in God. She knew He was always with her! Mom was tough and loving, trilingual, and a master at crocheting, which required memorized mathematical patterns! She could whip up baby booties in no time and made many for the family. She was an avid reader of Murder Mysteries and loved building 1000-Piece puzzles.

Mom finally got her wish. She wanted to die at home in Potomac in her cozy little room with “Petit Fleur” wall-papered walls and in her bed with her flowered ruffled bedspread that she had for many years. From her bed she could see the window box full of flowers and the Hummingbirds that always came. She was surrounded by pictures of her parents and siblings, and all her children and grandchildren. Her bookshelves held her favorite cookbooks, mystery novels, and her Bible. On another wall were added “French” touches of hanging hats adorned with scarves and flowers.

Mom has now joined her parents, her three brothers and our long-missed brother, Henry, who passed away in 1984. As the oldest in her family, she became the matriarch of the Madrazo clan, and as our families grew throughout Europe, South and North America, she held us together even until today. She had a big personality, and her compassion made her unforgettable to all who knew her. She may have passed on, but she will live on through us.

Our Family deeply appreciates the love, encouragement, support and prayers we have received. Thank you for being here today to celebrate the life of our beloved mother, Corazon Maria Madrazo de Castro. Gifts in Cora’s Memory may be given to a charity of your choice.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 KJV)

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 11:00AM at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 9200 Kentsdale Drive Potomac, MD 20854. Interment will follow at Parklawn Memorial Park, 12800 Veirs Mill Road Rockville, MD 20853.