Yolanda Lucia Gouffray

Yolanda Lucia Gouffray was born December 14, 1929 in Santiago de-Cuba to Miguel A. Puig Santacruz Pacheco and Carmelina Manduley. Surrounded by family, she passed away on July 15, 2020 in Miami, Florida at the age of 90. She was one of six children, three boys and three girls. Yolanda’s favorite childhood memories were of her father teaching her to dance, and traveling the world with her parents; she had particularly fond memories of France. Yolanda attended private boarding school and then Ontario Ladies College in Toronto, Canada. It was there, in Toronto, where she met her future husband, Jorge Alberto (Albert) Gouffray.   
Yolanda and Albert were married on April 9, 1948 and remained together until Albert’s passing. They had three children – Yvonne, Marlene, and George – whom they raised in Canada, Cuba, Columbia, Houston, Texas and Miami, Florida.  She worked as a special educator and had a passion for teaching children and adults with disabilities. She passed her love of caring for others and her joy of traveling to her nine grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Yolanda cherished her family deeply and shared that they were her greatest joy. 
Yolanda happily shared her sage wisdom to the younger generation: “First you have to trust God with all your heart. Second, be honest – always tell the truth. And, of course, live a decent life. I don’t like people who don’t try to better themselves.” As one of the kindest, most elegant and beautiful human beings to grace this earth, she will be greatly missed.