Oneida R. Hevia, 80, of Port Charlotte, Florida passed away December 5th in Port Charlotte.

She was born in Holguin, Cuba on December 20, 1928, and was educated in Habana, Cuba where she served as a bookkeeper prior to her marriage to Dr. Modesto F. Hevia on December 20, 1953.

In 1961, she left her homeland and emigrated to the United States with her two children. Although she was forced to separate from her husband who was denied the right to leave, she courageously risked everything to provide her children the opportunity to be raised in a free country. She was reunited with her husband in 1963 and he continued his medical career while she served as a homemaker.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Dr. Modesto F. Hevia. She is survived by her sisters, Mercedes and Idel Lopez from Habana, Cuba; her sons, Dr. Modesto J. Hevia (Carol) of Arlington, MA; Jesus (Gina) of Port Charlotte, FL; and her four grandchildren Brett, Tyler, Jesse and Clara. Oneida was a cancer survivor and struggled for years with Parkinson’s. She will be greatly missed by family and all who knew her.