Candida Ines Colon

October 4, 1931 - April 25, 2022

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Candida Inez Colon, our beloved grandmother, mother and friend on April 25th. She left us after a brief illness in Tampa at the age of 90. In her final hours, she was surrounded by three generations of her loved ones. Candida, known as “Paloma”, was born in Sumidero, Cuba in the Province of Santiago on October 4th, 1931. She was the second to last of eleven siblings. In 1964 she fled Cuba with her young sons, Juan Jose and Rafael Antonio, and found exile in Madrid, Spain. Three years later with the help of her beloved sister Natividad, Paloma and her sons made their way to the United States, settling into a life of freedom in New York. A few years later, Paloma and her children moved to Miami where she lived for several decades and planted deep roots in the community, making numerous friends who became like family. In 2015, she moved to Tampa to be with her son. Palomita became a proud American Citizen and often spoke about her gratitude for the opportunities this country provided her and her family. The family matriarch loved her family fiercely and made countless sacrifices throughout her life for their benefit. Despite a language barrier, Paloma made an indelible impression on everyone who met her. She had a unique ability to connect with people and made them feel loved. Paloma is survived by her son Rafael, her daughters-in-law Rose and Odalis, her grandchildren: Itica, Lisa, Rafael (Pito), Juan Emanuel, Christian, Javier, Gabriel, Cristina, Lionel, and Anthony, her great-grandchildren: Natalia, Blake, Noah, Dionis, Victoria, Joshua, Aaliyah, Valentina and Bella; and her nephew Ricky.