Ana D. Ricardo

Ana D. Ricardo, 81, of Margate, Florida passed away on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at Northwest Medical Center in Margate, Florida. She moved to Florida 38 years ago from Philadelphia, PA, was an extremely hard worker who not only loved to cook but was an excellent cook! She is survived by her 3 children: Maida (Jurij) Burka, PA, Maurice (Mary) Serret, PA and Anelle Panarisi, FL, her half brother, her half sister, 4 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. A Celebration of Life Visitation will take place from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. on Friday, October 8, 2010 with a family service/ Father Armando Tolosa starting at 8:30 P.M. at Savino Funeral Home & Cremation Services located 2950 North State Road 7 Margate, FL 33063 (954) 977.5244. Father Konopka will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, October 9, 2010 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church located 1400 South State Road 7 North Lauderdale, FL 33068. Entombment will immediately follow at the Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery located 1500 South State Road 7 North Lauderdale, FL 33068. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Bob Hope Parkinson Research Center 1501 NW 9th Avenue Bob Hope Road, Miami, Florida 33136 800.327.4545. Savino Funeral Home & Cremation Services is entrusted with arrangements. Our beloved Mother drank deeply from the stream of life. Living with a “a can do” optimism in spite of all her illnesses. Her optimism helped her to go on relentlessly even as her body succumbed to her various illnesses. She emphasized the present and didn’t waste time asking “what if”, “if only” or “why me?” Instead she always responded “I am fine” whenever you asked her how she was doing. It reflected her resilience which was a trademark of her character. Before our mother was 30 years old she became a widow with two children in a country, Cuba, with no established resources to help someone in her situation. With great determination, courage and unshakeable faith in God, she came to the United States to start a new life. As the years went by and one serious illness after another affected her body, she continued with her unshakable faith. She believed that life should be lived trusting that God will never abandon you no matter what the circumstances. She lived with a wonderful sense of gratitude. Thanking God for her family, her friends and all the blessings that God had bestowed on her. The love that she felt from her family and friends kept her going. The power of their love was more potent than any medication that she was taking. Their love and support breathed life into her as her health deteriorated. What legacy does our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend leave with all of us who loved her: ? Optimism- a can do attitude ? Faith- a trust in God that through Him everything is possible ? Resilience- the courage to go on no matter what life throws at you ? Gratitude- for all the blessings that sometimes we fail to see particularly when we are facing an illness or a crisis ? Relationships- the belief that life is fulfilled within the context of relationships. Our mother knew that without the love and support of her family and friends, her life journey would have been very difficult. So it was very important to her to stay interconnected. ? Love- Our mother showed her love by example. Her love for her family and her friends was steadfast. It defined who she was. We, her family, intend to continue living her legacy of living in faith and trust so that when our time comes we can go in peace as she did believing in the words of our Lord: “I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die”.

Ana D. Ricardo

November 6, 1928 - October 5, 2010