Thursday, July 28, 2016
Maria Severina Huergo Diaz was born in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba on January 3, 1928. Her father, Higinio Huergo had immigrated from Asturias, Spain to Cuba, where he met and married Teadora Huergo, Maria's mother. Maria attended a Catholic convent boarding school during her early years. Later she went on to the University of Havana where she earned a Masters of Library Science and a doctorate in Philosophy. In the early 1950's she was introduced as a debutant to Cuban society. In 1954 she met Gaston Diaz, a law student also at the University of Havana. They wed in 1955 and spent their honeymoon at the now famous Delano Hotel in Miami Beach. Upon their return to Cuba, they settled in Sancti Spiritus, where her first daughter, Maria was born in 1956. Two years later, in the midst of the Cuban revolution she gave birth to their other daughter, Leticia Maria.
In 1962, Maria, along with her two daughters immigrated to the United States and joined her husband (who had previously immigrated), and settled in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The early years were a struggle for a young woman, who had come from a privledged background, and found herself raising two very young children in a foreign culture.aside from the struggle of learning a new language, she also found herself learning a new skill-cooking. She assimilated and insisted that only English be spoken in the home. She was the quintessential perfectionist and demanded the same of her children. Fortunately, the State of New Jersey recognized her University degrees and she started to work as a professional librarian. She worked for the State of New Jersey for over 40 years. In 1998, she retired to South Florida to help care for her elderly mother. She was thrilled to have purchased a condo in Century Village, where she had always dreamed of retiring. Since her two daughters, Maria and Leticia, along with her two grandchildren, Albert and Emily, and her four-legged grandchildren, Katrina, Cassandra, Daisy, Ginger and Toulouse were already living in Florida, her life was complete. She was very proud of her two daughters' accomplishments, one a business executive and one an attorney and law school dean. Though her illnesses sometimes left her without energy, she always took the time to brag about her grandchildren, Albert and Emily. Both are practicing attorneys and are a tribute to Maria's work ethic and legacy. We want to thank our mother for all she sacrificed to ensure that her children and grandchildren were able to live the American dream. Rest in peace and we hope that you have found happiness with our Lord. Until we meet again.