El Paso - Marina Miles, 75, of El Paso, Texas, passed away on December 25, 2023. She was born on January 20, 1948, in Mexico City, Mexico, to the late Alicia Hernandez Rodriguez and Dr. Adolfo Hernandez Cardenas.
Marina was a force of nature, a teacher extraordinaire, a fierce, loving, generous, funny, and incredibly smart and stubborn woman who touched the lives of many people and animals. She was a beloved teacher at Ramona Elementary and later, Alicia R. Chacon International School, where she dedicated her life to shaping young minds. She was known for her fierce dedication, generous spirit, and incredible intelligence. Marina's impact reached far beyond the classroom, as she formed deep and lasting connections with her students and colleagues, who became like family to her. Even though Marina suffered a great deal of pain in the last years of her life, her tenacity and determination to lead a fulfilling life is what inspired them all. Marina's dedication to education was exemplified by her Master's of Bilingual Education with emphasis on math and science, from the University of Texas at El Paso, which she earned with great pride.
She enjoyed playing Canasta with three separate groups and Dominos with another, often winning, maybe or maybe not so graciously. Marina also communed with every animal that came across her path. Her love for them knew no bounds, and she often had to be talked out of adopting a whole menagerie.
She is survived by her beloved dog Fifi, with her many outfits, and her children (with their many Marina impersonations): Ann Marie Miles (John Cabuena), Martin Rudolph Miles (Heather Leffler), Cristina Dolores Miles (Clint Lindhorst). Marina also leaves behind her cherished grandchildren: Estella Grace Miles Lindhorst, Gus Martin Leffler-Miles, and Olive Alicia Leffler-Miles. She is also survived by her siblings: Diana Hernandez, Alejandro Hernandez, Adolfo Hernandez, Manuel Hernandez, and many loving nieces and nephews, as well as a huge community of friends and students. Marina will be dearly missed by her large community filled with intimate friends who were like family to her, and who always admired her tenacity.
A viewing and prayer service will be held on January 13, 2024, at Martin Funeral Home-West, located at 128 Resler Dr., El Paso, TX 79912. The viewing will take place from 12pm to 4pm, with the prayer service from 1pm to 2pm. A reception will be held from 4pm to 6pm at Avila's Mexican Food, located at 6232 N. Mesa St., where friends and family will gather to share memories and support one another.
In honor of Marina's love for learning and equity in education, the family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made: click here to donate in Marina's name . Your donations will support the SEL Environment Matters project at Alicia R Chacon International Language School, where Marina taught. Alternatively, on the Donors Choose web site, you can select any El Paso area school funding projects, specifically made by teachers in the area that are seeking financial support.
We would like to express our gratitude to our wonderful family and friends, and Martin Funeral Home-West for their compassion, advice, and assistance during this difficult time.
Marina's presence will be deeply missed, but her legacy of loving and accepting all creatures, great and small, and her drive for the pursuit of knowledge will continue to inspire all those who were fortunate enough to know her. Don’t worry, Mom, we’ll take care of Fifi! Until we meet again…
