Aurelia Valentin Aviles
April 23rd , 1923 – November 12th , 2009
A urelia Valentin Aviles was born in San Juan , Puerto Rico on April 12th , 1923 , she was an
orphan by the age of three . An entrepreneur at heart , Aurelia was only 20 when she set ventured a move to Newark , NJ , as a single parent . Within a short time Aurelia opened her own candy store then opened a Latin Restaurant called Siete-Bello on Broadway Street which quickly flourished and became a popular hangout for many well known Latinos and other famous people in the community .
During the winter of the early 70 ’ s when riots hit the streets of Newark , New Jersey many people in the area who owned business watched as they were looted , but Aurelia ’ s restaurant went untouched . Aurelia was very well known and loved for her generosity to people . Aurelia later sold Siete Bello and her candy store in New Jersey and moved to Tampa , FL .
Wasting no time Aurelia became established within the local Latino Community as “ La Doña ” opening several restaurants within the Latin community . During the 1980 ’ s Mariel Cuban exile , Aurelia and friend , Caesar Gunzmart helped to feed and support many Cuban families in need . Aurelia was also known for her dedication to God , and she always brought joy and love to people wherever she went .
The last restaurant that Aurelia opened was in Tampa , and it was called “ La Palomita ” restaurant . In the late 90 ’ s , Aurelia finally retired and sold La Palomita but never stopped working and helping other Latinos open their own restaurants , it made her so happy to help people fulfill their dreams . She would cook pastelles , pastelillos , alcapurrias , paella , and many , many other delicious Latino dishes . She had a great love for her grandchildren , family , and friends . Aurelia always gave of herself to help others in their needs she was strong , and unselfish , beautiful and courageous until the very end .
On November 12th , 2009 , Aurelia Valentin Aviles went to be with the one person she loved most of all , Jesus Cristo , she will live forever in the hearts of her grandchildren , family , and friends . Aurelia was a true borinquen business woman and a tremendous Latina that added mucho sabor to Tampa ’ s much loved Latino Community .
May she rest in peace , she will be missed forever .
We love you Abuela , -Victor Padilla
Maria Esther Carillo
( Bogota , Colombia : 1960 – Tampa , USA : 2009 )
M aria Esther : daily knitter of family , spirituality , and community love .
The daughter of a Colombian family formed by , Francisco Suarez and Rosalba Zuniga , wife of a great man , and the mother of two beautiful children whom she loved , cared , nurtured , and educated . She was the sister of eight brothers and sisters whom she loved and loved her dearly ; aunt of many nieces and nephews and a role model for many men and women . She lived her life based on her Christian values , the love for people , the love for work , the love for the arts and culture , and the tenacity of building a multi-cultural society in the United States , especially in the Tampa Bay Area .
The wife of Francisco Obed Carrillo , a Christian , generous , loving and caring husband and father , and her partner in business . Mother of her children Maria Liliana , ( 1991 ) and Daniel Francisco ( 1993 ), at the same time as she has been a mother for many other children of her family and for other families as well as any group that she became close to .
She was a beautiful , Hispanic , hard working and joyous woman with contagious energy — a creator of life . Social leader and a teacher that with the help of creative individuals in Colombia and in the United States accomplished the creation of many organizations .
A generous leader , loyal to her moral principles and deeply engaged in serving the community , family leader , and church leader in the Hispanic community , and a citizen of the world . She deeply believed in God . As a Christian in the Mennonite Church , she believed in giving as the expression of faith in Christ . She believed in education and the cultures as the bridge between human societies , in happiness as the glue in between men , youth , and children of all colors and origins .
Maria Esther died tragically in Miami , Florida on May 28 , 2009 , just footstep away from where her daughter Maria Liliana was going to receive a scholarship that would help her start her college studies in Chemical Engineering at Columbia University in New York . For her great passion for life and her consistent way of thinking and acting , there is no doubt that God gave us a beautiful gift in which we can emulate the truth of Jesus preaching at Gethsemane . Maria Esther leaves to us all an example and an invitation to keep on working for a creative youth and for us to become responsible of building a multi-cultural America that is generous and inclusive .