Obituary of Clara Ramona Almaguer Zaldivary Hernandez

Mrs. Ramona Hernandez of West Columbia, South Carolina went home to be with the Lord at the age of 88 on the 8 of July, 2014. Born in Banes, Holguin, Cuba to farmers, Alberto Almaguer and Candida Zaldivar on August 31, 1925, she enjoyed childhood with all her five brothers: Gonzalo, Rosendo, Edictimio, Manuel, Francisco and her sister Rosa, and with her first four cousins: Fulgencio Batista, Hermelindo, Juan and Francisco, sons of her mother's only sister Carmela Zaldivar Batista. At the age of 10, after the passing of her mother, Mrs. Ramona and her brother Francisco went to live with their first cousin Fulgencio Batista Zaldivar, then President of Cuba. She recounted joyful days of living in the Cuban Presidential Palace and studied in the United States at Sacred Heart Junior College, Belmont, North Carolina where she was accompanied by her cousin Carmela Batista, daughter of Hermelindo Batista. After graduating in 1946 in Pre-Nursing, she returned to Havana and actively began assisting the Physicians at the hospital with the sick. She helped many poor people and lame children; covering their medical and surgical needs, and even delivering Christmas meals and gifts to needy families with the support of her cousin President Batista. In 1959, Mrs. Ramona returned to the United States and married Faustino Oliverio Hernandez, March 10th 1965. She and Oliver and their two daughters Regla Maria and Mercedes came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior under the guidance of the late Rev. Miguel Angel Gonzalez. Mrs. Ramona is remembered for saying many times, "All the riches I had in Cuba does not compare with the richness I have today because Jesus lives in my heart!" She continued to serve her church family and friends with her delicious Cuban food and a joyful spirit of encouragement, saying, "Remember, I can do all things through Jesus Christ who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13. God blessed her with a long life, a very good husband, two wonderful daughters, five grandchildren and many good friends. She is survived by her husband Oliverio Hernandez, her daughters, Regla Maria (Juan Miguel) Gonzalez, of West Columbia, S.C., grandchildren, Juan Miguel Jr., David Oliver and Regla Maria II, and daughter Mercedes (Reinerio) Guerrero of Fort Lauderdale, FL., grandchildren, Reinerio Jr., and Juan Carlos. She is also survived by her brother Francisco Almaguer of Miami, FL., and her half-sister Cruz Maria Musfeldt of Billings, Montana. Also living are several nephews and nieces with their children in Cuba and in Miami; as well as cousins of the Batista Family to include her dear cousin Carmela Batista Lamas. The Celebration of Life service for Mrs. Hernandez will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, July 12th at Fred Hunters Funeral Home, 6301 Taft St., Hollywood, FL., with Rev. Reinaldo Carvajal and Rev. Mike A. Gonzalez officiating. The family will begin to receive all friends and family at 10:30 a.m. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Palmetto Senior Care and Quality Care Services of Columbia, S.C., who have graciously given their professional medical care with great compassion and love for Mrs. Ramona during these last few years. You are greatly appreciated.