Obituary of Ada W. Marin

Ada W. Marin of Lyndhurst, New Jersey, died peacefully in the early morning hours of Friday, October 13, 2023-just 2 days shy of her 93rd birthday- with family members at her side.

 
"Adita", as she was known to her family, was born in Havana, Cuba, eldest of 2 children born to Manuel & Margarita. Ada attended La Inmaculada Primary School, Colegio Nuestra Señora de Lourdes High School, and graduated as a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Havana. She met her future husband while working at Andres De La Flor Pharmacy. She married Ardelio Marin in 1957, and they had 4 daughters in Cuba.  Together, they owned 3 pharmacies and a pharmaceutical supply business in Havana.

In 1968, at age 37, she and her family left communist Cuba and immigrated to the United States, leaving everything she worked for behind - to make a better life for her family. In her first few years in the U.S., she learned English, worked at Zenith Labs, a generic pharmaceuticals company, and worked at Parentini’s Pharmacy in Union City to complete the required hours to become Board certified as a Registered Pharmacist.  In 1970, within 2 years of arriving in the U.S., Ada & Ardelio bought their first home in West New York, New Jersey, where her only son was born. And in 1973, within 5 years of arriving in the U.S., Ada and Ardelio bought a pharmacy in Washington Heights, New York.  Ada worked at Marin Pharmacy until she retired in 1995, at age 65. They and their pharmacy were so loved in the neighborhood that the MARIN PHARMACY name has remained to this day. Ada and Ardelio bought their second home in North Bergen, NJ in 1976, and lived there for 24 years. They moved to their Lyndhurst, NJ home in 2000, and lived there for the rest of her life.

Ada was very involved in the Catholic Church.  At her Lyndhurst Parish, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, she belonged to the Holy Rosary Society, and volunteered for years at the Coffee Booth during the annual Church Feast.  It was at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church that Ada and Ardelio celebrated their 50^th & 60^th wedding anniversary Masses, presided by Father Nazareno Orlandi.  After her knee arthritis prevented her from going to Mass, she enjoyed visits from Father Ernie Rush, her Eucharistic Ministers Kathy and Theresa, and catch-up phone calls from Music Minister Alexis. Ada always stayed in touch with her family near and far, and her friends, some of them from as far back as kindergarten!

She was especially appreciative of her dear neighbor Vita, who often brought her home-made Italian dishes and pastries; dear friends Al & Gina, who were always ready to lend a helping hand; and chats with her sister-in-law Elia & her niece-in-law-Elisita.

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Ada, then age 90, learned to use e-mail to stay connected and enjoy her great-grandchildren’s photos; learned to order her groceries from Instacart; and taught herself how to shop on-line for clothes from Macy’s website. 

Ada was preceded in death by her son Alex in 2000 and her husband Ardelio in 2020. She is survived by 4 daughters and their spouses/partners: Ana (Arthur), Ada (Linda), Alina (Julius), & Alicia (Bob); 8 grandchildren: Dan (Ilene), Alana, Alissa (Rafael), Stephanie (Brian), Anthony (Christine), Andrew, Christina, & Caroline; 5 great-grandchildren: Ivy, Alex, Athena, Leo, & Virginia; her brother Othon, her dear cousin Jorge, and several nieces and nephews.

We will truly miss this wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend-- who was loved by so many; and will be loved-always. 

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation at Nazare Memorial Home, Inc., 403 Ridge Road, Lyndhurst on Sunday, October 15, 2023 from 2 - 6 PM.  All will gather at the funeral home on Monday, October 16 at 9 AM then to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Lyndhurst where at 10 AM a funeral mass will be offered.  Interment, Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.  Please express your condolences to Ada's family by using our Tribute Wall.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online by clicking here.