Mariana Cerda

Mariana Cerda Our Mother, Our Rock Our dear mother was born on the 10th of February 1931. She was one of two born that day. She was the identical twin of her sister Maria. She lived in the town of her birth, San Juan Puerto Rico until she was 13. Moving then to Washington, DC with her parents Jose’ and Maria Cosimi. Her father worked for the State Department as an Interpreter and her mother guided them through adolescence as any good mom would do. Just as she would do for her three children later in life. Mariana Ramirez Cosimi grew up to be a beautiful woman and even represented Puerto Rico in the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC in the early 50’s, being crowned Cherry Blossom Princess. She worked for the government in both accounting and secretarial roles. As well as providing Spanish to English interpretation when called upon to do so. When she was young she enjoyed many of the typical things that young people took part in during the 40’s and 50’s. She loved dancing, and going bowling. Even taking home a few trophies for her prowess on the lanes. Our mother Mariana met our father, Dr. James J. Cerda RADM, when she was in her early 20’s and married the handsome Navy man and aspiring doctor at age 25. Their storybook romance and marriage went the distance until the love of her life went to God in 2001. During their life together, mom and dad traveled the world. They explored Greece, Italy, Spain, and England by land, sea and rail. On one trip she once met Ringo Star when flying back to the states on the Concord. When we asked her about what she thought about meeting one of the greatest rock stars in human history she said that…” He was very nice and little feet”. She had a great sense of humor and lit up every room she entered. One of mom’s favorite places to visit was Alaska. She loved seeing the whales and taking in nature in general. She loved animals of every size and species. At one point she even tried her hand at raising quarter horses on their seven acres on the outside of Gainesville, FL. If our father would have let her, she would have started a puppy farm at their house. When we were young we had toy poodles and later she adopted a Doberman Pincher who was bred and successfully had a litter of nine puppies. So I guess she was able to have her puppy farm after all. When our father passed she had a toy Chihuahua named Duchess, who was her comforting companion for the next 17 years. While living in Gainesville, Mom was a ceramics fanatic, churning out piece after piece from an oversized chess set to a replica of my dad’s ‘67 Volkswagen bug. She managed the family budget and could stretch a dollar better than anyone we knew. She was always there for us kids. Whether it was a skinned knee or a relationship problem she was never too busy to attend to whatever the situation required with a calm voice and understanding demeanor. Our father would call her, “The Hostess with the Mostess” as well as the most wonderful woman that any man could have been blessed with. He worshiped her and her him. Together they were a model for what a marriage and partnership should be. She remained faithful to her lifelong love, never even considering sharing her life with another partner. Instead she focused on us, her three now adult children, Jim Jr., Debbie and Carla as well as her six grandchildren. Mom also loved her nieces as if they were her own. Mary, Kathy and Lisa. After their mom passed, they also turned to our mother for guidance and support. She loved everyone equally and without judgement. Niece, nephew, aunt, uncle cousin or close friend…Family was her number one priority. Our mother was deeply involved in her church, helping to get Holy Faith Catholic Church off the ground in the mid-seventies, setting up fund raisers in the early days when the services were held at the Gainesville Women’s Club. She helped get the funding for both the Social Hall and ultimately the church building itself. In the early 80’s, Mom and Dad moved from Gainesville proper to their property just outside of town, into a beautiful Mediterranean ranch style house that she designed. There she would be instrumental in bringing yet another church into fruition. That being Queen of Peace Catholic Church. Mom loved to read detective novels, James Patterson being her favorite. Even in the final stage of her life she was finishing a book a week while living and thriving with Carla in Land-O-Lakes. She would not have lived as long as she did without the daily care and comfort of my sister. Because of her the whole family benefitted from having our dear mother around for an extended period of time. God bless Carla for that. Even though she loved my father more than anything in this world, she definitely had a soft spot for Mr. Tom Selleck. The man with the mustache! We celebrated and laughed about her fantasy relationship with the legendary TV star with coffee mugs and a pillow with an image of a younger Selleck, circa Magnum PI days. That pillow allowed her to sleep with Tom every night. Platonically of course. She used to say that next to dad, Tom was her “MAN!”. She was our rock to lean on, a guiding light for our family when life was the darkest, a comforting therapist, and an invaluable teacher. Most of all she was the very best mom any kid could ask for and we will love and miss her always. Forever more we will be comforted knowing that she has now rejoined the love of her life. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, September 15, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. at Holy Faith Catholic Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, burial will follow in Forest Meadows Central Cemetery.

Mariana Cerda

February 10, 1931 - September 5, 2023