Obituary of Clara Farinas

Clara (Santiesteban) Fariñas passed away on February 7, 2023 after a long battle with dementia. She was born in Banes, Cuba on November 1, 1937, a daughter of Ernesto Santiesteban and Reina Alvarez. Clara married the love of her life, Leonardo Fariñas on January 7, 1960. They started their lives in Cuba but life poses its challenges. Unfortunately, changes within Cuba forced her and her husband to bravely move their young family from Cuba to the United States to escape communism. With the values of hard work and sacrifice, Clara would find work at local factories and then later in life offer childcare. Despite not knowing English, she and her husband would move their family out of low-income housing, to an apartment, and finally owning a beautiful home in Florida. She would eventually rest later in life at St. Joseph’s Manor in Trumbull, CT. Clara was a woman in constant motion. At almost any time of day, Clara was on the phone chatting, cooking, visiting with friends, cleaning, or doing the laundry. Sometimes all at once. She enjoyed shopping at the malls but would often disappear if you were not paying attention. Clara would spend her entire day preparing meals for Thanksgiving or Christmas but even daily meals were special. Clara was also an entrepreneur opening her own hair salon as a young woman in Cuba. After moving to the US, she would continue cutting and styling hair for her family, friends, and her community. She would spend her Saturdays trimming, coloring, and styling hair while holding conversations all at speed. Even many years later, people would continue to recognize Clara from her days as a beautician. The only time of the day that Clara would sit would be late in the evening to watch her novelas before heading to bed. Clara is survived by her children, their spouses and grandchildren: daughter, Idania (Barbara) Hernandez, and her husband, Gabe, their two children, Gabriel and finance Megan and Alex; daughter Clara (Betty) Fariñas and son Joseph; and son Leonard (Len) Fariñas and wife Melissa, their three children Brodi, Brandon, and Sophia. In addition, she is survived by her sisters and brother: Mirna, Mireya and Roberto. Besides her parents, she is predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Leo, an infant daughter, Yvonne; as well as a brother, Reymundo and a sister, Miriam. The family of Clara would like to thank the staff at St. Joseph’s Manor, St. Vincent’s Hospital and to Vitas Hospice for the wonderful care they have provided to Clara over the many years.