Luz Hernandez-Abril

(Posted Dec. 1, 2006)

Luz Maria Hernandez-Abril, 87, a native of Sagua la Grande, Cuba, and resident of Houma, La., died at Charlton Methodist Hospital in Desoto, Texas, Monday, Nov. 27, 2006.

Visitation will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday at Chauvin Funeral Home and from 9:30 a.m. to funeral time Saturday at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. Mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, with burial in St. Francis de Sales Cemetery No. 2.

She is survived by three sons, Manuel Hernandez, Victor Hernandez and wife, Cathy, and Luis Hernandez and wife, Toni; five daughters, Luchie Hernandez, Patricia Whipple and husband, Gary, Maria Elena Abril, Aleida Hernandez and Lourdes Otis and husband, Greg; 15 grandchildren, Gary J. Whipple II and wife, Misty, Trisha W. Kemerly and husband, Tony, Brant Whipple and wife, Krista, Vicky H. Martinez and husband, Eddy, Joanna H. San Diego and husband, Kevin, Michael Hernandez, Patsy Hernandez, Manuel Hernandez, Victor Hernandez Jr. and wife, Marisa, Joshua Hernandez, Christina Hernandez, Leslie Hernandez, Patrick Hernandez, John Paul Hernandez, David Otis, Rebekah Otis and Kian Abril; and five great-grandchildren, Parke Houston Whipple, Parrish Elise Whipple, Alexandra Martinez, Francesca San Diego and Massimo Paolo Hernandez.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Mario M. Hernandez; two sons, Javier Hernandez and Jose Ignacio Hernandez; one granddaughter, Katie Hernandez; four brothers; one sister; and her parents, Augustin Abril and Rafaela Perez Abril.

Abu, as she was lovingly known to all of her grandchildren, was a kindergarten schoolteacher in her native Cuba, where she met and married Mario Hernandez, her husband of 55 years. In 1961, when it became obvious that Fidel Castro was a communist and that living in Cuba would be untenable, Luz and Mario left their home for the United States with their 10 children, the youngest being only five years old. For almost two years, all but the two youngest children lived with foster parents until the family was finally reunited in Miami. Within a year, the Hernandez family moved to Houma and became immersed in the culture of south Louisiana.

Although there were many demands on Luz as a mother of 10 children, she found time to cultivate many friends and life-long relationships in Houma.

She was a member of the Bar-Berry Garden Club, YMCA, local Red Hats and a devout member of St. Anthony Catholic Church. She will be greatly missed by all of her family and friends.

Chauvin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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