Mercedes (Ramirez) deCardenas

CARDENAS Mercedes (Ramirez) de Cárdenas, age 93, originally from Cuba, died on June 3, 2007. Most recently from Miami, Florida, she was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Antolin de Cárdenas. Mercedes received her undergraduate degree from the University of Havana, left Cuba in 1961 and earned her master's and Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Dr. Cárdenas was a Professor of Spanish at Western Michigan University. She is survived by her three daughters, Mercedes (Jerald) Steinbauer of Lake City, MN, Rosario (Michael) Kukla of Maple Glen, PA and Teresita (Mack) Long of Grand Rapids, MI; eight grandchildren, Loraine Steinbauer, Paul (Carri) Steinbauer, Stuart (Amanda) Kukla, Nathan (Heather) Kukla, Valerie Kukla, Sara Long, Anna (Justin) Hickman, Rita Long; four great-grandchildren and two on the way; one brother, Manuel (Angelita) Ramirez of Miami and very special nieces and nephews in Miami, FL, Keene, NH, Farmington Hills, MI. Funeral services and interment will be in Miami, FL. Memorial contributions may be made to First-Hand Aid which provides humanitarian and medical relief for the children of Cuba, PO Box 150171, Grand Rapids, MI 49515. O'Brien Eggebeen Gerst