Duarte Cejas, Alicia's Obituary
Alicia Duarte Cejas (de la Cruz), aged 87, passed away on September 8, 2025. She was a beloved wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Alicia was born on August 23, 1938 in Habana, Cuba, where she spent her formative years. She went on to attend La Universidad de Villanueva where she studied Ciencias Comerciales, and later became a bookkeeper, an accountant, and eventually Financial Comptroller at Valmor Industries, and then CMI Enterprises. Throughout her career, she had to deal with the glass ceiling and discrepancies in pay compared to her male counterparts, but she proved through hard work and determination that she had equal value, eventually earning the pay she deserved. At the end of her career, she never fell behind the technology curve of a younger computer generation.
But more than anything, Alicia was a devoted wife and mother, meeting her husband Pablo on the beaches of Tarara in Cuba, getting married then immigrating to the US as newlyweds, where they ended up raising four successful children. She was always there to offer her family guidance, support, and encouragement, no matter what challenges they faced.
After retirement, she traveled the world together with Pablo, and they enjoyed time with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved reading books, and especially enjoyed romance and mystery novels, often reading them on her iPad, finishing an impressive 50 books during the pandemic year alone. She also grew to love watching sports with her husband Pablo, particularly watching tennis and supporting the Miami Heat and the Dolphins. She also learned to use her cellphone to stay connected with her grandchildren, often texting them and using Instagram. After her husband passed in 2024, she moved into The Palace Suites in Kendall where she made a number of new friends.
Alicia is survived by her children, Alicia (Jack) Sasportas, Paul (Joan) Cejas, Carlos (Monica) Cejas, Alex (Judy) Cejas, her grandchildren, Nick Cejas, Brandon Sasportas, Greg (Jill) Cejas, Matthew (Danielle) Sasportas, Christina (Andy) Tapella, Zachary Sasportas, Karla Cejas, Kevin Cejas, Sasha Cejas, Ando Cejas, and Anabelle Cejas, and her great-grandchildren Sophia, Matthew, Benjamin, Alexander, Natalie, and Elliott. Her memory will be cherished by all who knew her.
A private funeral mass will be held for family and close friends at St. Agatha Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) https://iffgd.org/get-involved/make-a-donation/donate-form/
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