Marta Wainer

Our mother, grandmother, and mother-in-law, Marta Wainer, also lovingly known as Mima and Abu, was born in Cuba in 1925. The family left Cuba in 1961, just two years after Castro came to power, and settled in Brooklyn, NY. Her first husband died in 1963, leaving her as the sole breadwinner for her two daughters and her mother. She struggled to make ends meet as a single parent, working seven days a week -- five days a week in a factory, and two weekend days in a clothing shop in the Lower East Side. Those were tough times, but she was even tougher, and somehow we all made it through those lean years.

A second, very brief marriage followed and they had a baby girl who died in infancy. Her second husband also passed away, and years later she married a third time, to Larry Wainer. That marriage lasted 41 years, until his death in 2015. In the 1970’s she decided to better herself and learned computer skills. She became a key punch operator, a job she did for almost 20 years. During the 1980’s and early 90’s she became very close to her aunt Catalina, and they traveled together to Mexico, South America, and many countries in Europe. When not traveling, they would enjoy going to the theatre and eating every weekend at a variety of international restaurants in Manhattan.

During the 1980’s, two beloved grandchildren (Aaron and Lauren) were born, and a third grandchild (Leah) was adopted in 1993. She was a doting grandmother to the very end of her life.

She had a best friend from Cuba, whom she met when they were both young brides, and with whom she maintained a close relationship for over 75 years. Her friend, Nenita, is 93 years old and living in Atlanta, Ga. They were closer than sisters, and kept in touch all these years by phone and also visits. Nenita has said that she will miss her best friend Marta till the end of her days.

Marta and Larry moved to NC in 2005, to be close to her older daughter, Ginny, and family. When her younger daughter Vicki and family moved to NC in 2013, she was delighted to have both of her daughters and grandchildren living locally. Family time and celebrations together were the joy of her life. Nothing was as important to her as family, whether you were born into it or married into it. She was a tough, feisty lady, with a heart of gold. She will be missed, but we, her family, feel at peace because we know we honored her wishes to end the last chapter of her life on her own terms.

A private graveside service for family and invited guests will be held in the Raleigh Hebrew Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com