Aida Maria Diaz

Aida Maria Diaz, 89, of Houston, Texas passed away peacefully surrounded by her husband and family on April 28, 2023. Aida was born on April 20, 1934 in Matanzas, Cuba to Aida Valdes and Carlos Cofiño. On September 22, 1957, she married her childhood sweetheart, Eduardo M Diaz MD, with whom she shared a lifetime of love and joy. Together they raised three children and played an important role in the lives of six grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Family was the primary focus of Aida’s life and what she considered her greatest achievement. Wanting to ensure a better life for their children, she and Eduardo made the decision to flee communist Cuba and emigrated to the United States in 1967. When the call from authorities came in the late evening hours to leave for the airport to start their new lives in the United States, they didn’t know the visas were only for Aida and their three children. Eduardo, a surgeon, was not allowed to leave the country. With little time to consider all the implications, they made the decision at the airport terminal gates to have Aida, age 33, leave Cuba with three small children in tow – aged 4, 7 and 9 – without knowing when (or if) they would see each other again. That courage and determination were their guiding principles, and they instilled a love for family and respect for hard work, perseverance, and education amongst their children.

Aida, or Nana, loved her extended family and life-long friends and was always ready to participate in EVERYTHING! Whether it was going out to dinner (especially if margaritas were involved), the movies (which she LOVED), musical theatre, ballet, opera, or a trip to the beach (her favorite vacation) as long as it involved family and friends. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her incredible joy. Each would tell you THEY were her favorite because she made each of them feel special and extraordinary.

Aida was preceded in death by her daughter, Aida Goloby, her parents, her godmother Ondina Muñoz, and her sister Josefina Martinez. She is survived by her husband, her children Vivian Kardow (Jack), Eduardo M Diaz, Jr. (Diana), and Mark V. Goloby. She is also survived by her sister Ondina Garcia, and her brother Guillermo Muñoz as well as her loving grandchildren Katrina McBeth (Sean), Meghan Kardow, Caroline Gabriel (Josh), Mark E. Goloby, Melanie Diaz, and Edward Diaz (Hannah), great-grandchildren Elizabeth, Travis, Penelope, and Crocket McBeth and Samuel Gabriel, along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She loved each very much.

Friends are invited to gather with the family for a celebration and viewing Thursday, May 4 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, with a Rosary beginning at 7:00 pm at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home, 4525 Bissonnet St., Bellaire TX 77401.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Mom’s name to MD Anderson Cancer Center in support of the Eduardo M and Aida M Diaz Endowed Fellowship in Head and Neck Surgery

In memory of Aida M Diaz

Eduardo M and Aida M Diaz Endowed Fellowship in Head and Neck Surgery

Endowment Number: E0011239

MD Anderson Cancer Center

P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486

www.mdanderson.org/gifts

713-792-3450

Please share your fondest memories and kind expressions of sympathy for the Diaz family at www.earthmanbellaire.com