Edith León

Edith made a bold decision in the mid-1960s to migrate with her three daughters from Cuba to the United States in pursuit of a doctor in New York City to help her eldest daughter who was deaf and to live the American dream. Edith made the biggest of sacrifices by leaving her parents and all of her siblings, and losing a structured family support system. Edith left everything she knew and the country she loved. Edith sacrificed her life and her dreams for the betterment of her children.

In doing so, Edith became the matriarch of La Familia León here in Newark, New Jersey. Edith raised four children as a single mom, in a country she did not know and language she did not speak, and she did all of this on her own. The American Dream is a sacrifice and she lived it every day of her life. The United States of America became her new home and she was proud to become a U.S. citizen.

Edith learned English from a program that was offered to parents at Hawkins Street School while her children were in school. Upon her children completing their schooling, she began her career and later retires from Chase Pharmaceuticals in Newark. Edith returned to Cuba decades later to place flowers at her mother’s grave, secured funds for her father to visit his American born teenage grandson for the first time, gave lots of love to her sisters and family in Cuba, and worked tirelessly every day of her life until literally her last breath.

Edith taught two family values that have been instilled in La Familia León. The first is to complete the task, preferably the first time, but get it done no matter how long it takes. We are relentless and we do not quit. The second is that an education is critical for oneself, their family, and the greater good. You start by helping yourself. Have it together or get it together. Then, help someone else who is not in the family along the way. These values bring pride to the family, builds the legacy of the family, and makes our ancestors proud because we are extending their reach.

Edith León is survived by her four loving children: Ana Clotilde Gervasi, Magaly Veronica Mejias, Tania Francisca León-Evans, and her beloved son, Roger León; her seven caring grandchildren: Frank Gervasi, Norberto Mejias Jr., Carla Capella, Anita McNeil, Jessica Nair, Shereen Merdan, and Adriana Clark; And, her 14 adorable great-grandchildren: Donovan, Deionna, Malikai, Brooke Lynn, Dominic, Noah, Nicole, Maraiya, Brycen, Kenna, Logan, Landon, Kai, and Roman.

She is equally proud of her sons-in-law: Danny, Norberto Sr, and Earl; list of cherished cousins, nephews, and nieces; grandsons-in-law and granddaughters-in-law; And, love for Isabel, Josefa, Barbarita, Ramon, Adel, Lexy, Maria, Maritza, Chad, Randolph, Virmania, and Billy.

A special acknowledgement to her doctors: Alejandro Presilla, Joseph DePasquale, Teresa Madrid, and Gunwant Guron, and the entire staff from the BRI Clinic at St. Michael’s Hospital with special love for Yonique and Dominique, and the pharmacists, technicians, and staff at Angelo’s Pharmacy on Ferry Street for more than 50 years of quality service and care to her and her family.