It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Mother, Margaret Wilma "Margarita" Avila, who passed away on March 14, 2025, in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Family was everything to Margaret. She was born in 1953 in Contramaestre, Cuba, and was the only daughter of eight children. Although she did not know her own mother, her father Waldemar Avila loved her dearly.

Waldemar and Margaret along with two of her youngest brothers escaped Communist Cuba during Castro's revolution around 1960, and settled in New York. Margaret’s Aunt Maria Engracia Avila Sanabria served as her Mother figure, and she was raised alongside her cousin, Ybis Sanabria, as sisters.

She lived her early & teenage years under the protection of her brothers William & Albert Avila in New York, where she met her husband Andrew Del Rio. They were married when she was 18 and had three children, Jessica, Lisa & Andrew.

They all lived in New Jersey with a large group of cousins for about twelve years, after which many of them migrated south to Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She visited her brothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins regularly and would enjoy boisterous parties filled with Salsa dancing, delicious food, family and friends. She had fond memories of these get togethers in both Elizabeth, New Jersey and Hialeah, Florida. Along with her cousins at her Tio and Tia Bebo’s house, they would roast whole hogs in palm leaves underground for hours, which was traditional in Cuba. The Avila children would play with their cousins for hours, Margaret lived for her family and these gatherings.

Margaret was a housewife for twenty-three years until the time of her divorce. She then began a career in customer service, where she made many friends. It was at this time that she leaned on her cousin Ybis, who was ever present in this time of her life. Ybis helped Margaret to navigate single motherhood, and to assist however she could with Margaret’s children. Ybis was her support system and closest confidant for the rest of her life. They had a special bond, and we are forever thankful that Ybis was there for Mom for all these years.

Margaret’s hobbies included interior decoration, furniture restoration, and rearranging the design & colors of her homes. She loved jewelry, skin care, clothes shopping and always looked fabulous. She was a beautiful woman, fun, funny and fabulous. She kept her family giggling constantly with her adorable Spanish to English translations…and miss pronunciations.

She stayed in Florida for many years, in close proximity to Ybis and her son Andrew, until her grandchildren began to arrive. She then moved to Tennessee to be closer to them and her daughters. She was the happiest while holding and caring for those little babies. She was a nurturer at heart, always displaying that which she so craved from her birth mother that she never knew.

Margaret is survived by her daughter Lisa Dudinetz and her children Sofia, Dominik, Danica, Abagail, and Luciana; her son Andrew Del Rio; her daughter Jessica Beshearse and her children Halley and Gryffn Hunt, Lilly Fox, & Noah Beshearse; her brothers Albert, William, Israel, Erick and Alexander Avila. She was predeceased by her brothers Waldemar and Ore Avila.

Margaret succumbed to complications of her dementia diagnosis at the young age of 72. Her daughter Lisa was her primary caregiver for the last year of her life.

Lisa, her husband Craig and their children Sofee & Dom visited Margaret regularly at a lovely memory care facility in Hendersonville, TN. A loving staff with an intense devotion to their residents cared for her and we are forever grateful for them. We would like to thank everyone at Legacy Village of Hendersonville, for showing kindness and love to our mother even when we were not there.

“Our beautiful Mother has gone to be with her Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Although she did not live a Christian life, after years of her family praying for God to reveal Himself to her and for her to feel His love... through what can only be explained as a miracle of God...while suffering with dementia, she truly repented of her sins and asked Jesus to cleanse her heart. She truly felt his presence come upon her. We are thankful for the Lord's mercy on her and our family. We rejoice that He has called her home to no longer suffer. She went peacefully knowing that she was loved. This is all one could ever ask for someone that they love, to experience. We'll see you in heaven Mama, I love you always”. 

-Lisa Dudinetz 

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