Mabel Pfeiffer's Obituary
Mabel Pfeiffer, age 93, of Miami Beach, FL, passed away in her home on March 12, 2024, surrounded by family. She was born in San Pedro, Buenos Aires, Argentina on October 31, 1930 to Carlos Gaspard and Francisca Rodriguez.
Strong and independent from a young age, Mabel was a competitive swimmer and rower, honing her skills in the flowing waters of the Parana River. She graduated from the Teacher’s Program at Escuela Normal San Pedro, and met and married Jerzy (Jorge) Pfeiffer, a metallurgical technician originally from Poland who arrived in Argentina after WWII.
Mabel and Jorge visited the United States in 1962, on a self-sponsored trip to promote Argentina. An unusual event at the time, they were interviewed by major publications, including the Dallas Morning News and the Austin Statesman. As a result of that voyage, the Pfeiffer family developed great affection for the U.S.
In a tragic turn of events, Jorge Pfeiffer passed away unexpectedly at age 39, leaving Mabel widowed with their two small children: Linda, age six, and Walter, age two. To provide a better future for her children, Mabel made the difficult decision to leave San Pedro and emigrate to the U.S. She arrived at Miami International Airport (MIA) in 1969.
The immigrant experience was harsh for Mabel and for the children. But her resilience, courage, and perseverance ensured the family would come to attain the “American Dream.” After working menial jobs, she was hired as a Traffic and Operations Agent by TACA Airlines at MIA. Mabel later worked for the Miami-Dade County Aviation Department. Then, after retirement, she worked until her mid-80s as a greeter at the MIA U.S. Customs and Immigration area, where she affectionately welcomed countless flight crews, including Linda and Walter, who are both pilots for American Airlines. Indeed, for Mabel there could be no better symbolism to coming full circle!
Mabel will be remembered for her joie de vivre. She loved the beach and was disciplined with exercise and diet throughout her life. She took pride in her uniform wear, but when not in uniform, she dressed in shades of blue, her favorite being turquoise, and never left the house without red lipstick on.
Mabel is survived by daughter Linda (Pfeiffer) Pauwels, son Walter Pfeiffer, and her five grandchildren: LT Nathalie E. Pauwels (USN), Patrick Pauwels, and Matthew, Fiona, and Eli Pfeiffer.
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