Maria Mercedes Iglesias

Maria Mercedes Martinez Castro de Iglesias

Maria was born in Oriente, Cuba, to Raphael Martinez and Juana Castro. She was an only child growing up in a small mountainous region on her parents’ ranch. Maria often shared stories of hiking into the mountains with her grandmother as a young girl.

After graduating from high school, she moved to Havana to study fashion design, where she earned her degree. While living in Havana, she met her husband Luis.

As the political climate in Cuba shifted, they legally immigrated to the United States with political asylum. Maria and Luis carried with them their eight children and would welcome their ninth months after arriving.

Later in life, Maria lovingly embraced nine additional children she always claimed and did not differentiate from her own, while also helping raise two of her grandchildren. She is survived by her children Luis Rafael, Luis Alberto, Juana Dignora, Leonardo, Luis Ray, Jorge Luis, Luisa Marie, Jesus, Mercedes John Luis, Amber Danae, Jesse Martinez, Sirilo Corey, Blanca Rosa, Jesusita, Eva Luisa, Luis Jr, Star Clara, Edward Luis and Bella Primavera

Maria’s courage is woven into the legacy of love she has left behind as the proud matriarch of a growing family spanning multiple generations, including grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.