Margarita Ondina Montero Diaz

Margarita was born on October 1, 1939, with her twin sister, Marina, to Ana and Francisco Montero and raised in the Dominican Republic. She cherished her years in Bani growing up with her family including her beloved 7 brothers and sisters: Catalina, Freddy, Romilio and Filanda as well as those siblings who have since passed, Bolivar, Modesto and Marina.

At 4’11, Margarita was a diminutive and feisty powerhouse. She was committed to her family and community, quick to jump into the fray to help anyone and everyone that needed help, putting the needs of others first without hesitation. She was relentless and principled, believing that hard work, education and standing up to inequity were a way of life. Margarita was a woman of faith.

Margarita had to fight for her opportunity to study accounting in college. She also founded a classroom with her sister, Marina, to help educate some of the poorest children in her country. She fought for democracy against an authoritarian Dominican government. She was a revolutionary.

As an adult, Margarita immigrated to the United States in search of a better life. As is often the case of immigrants, Margarita's accomplishments and abilities were not given full credit upon her arrival to the U.S. Undeterred, she took any job that could help her provide stability to her growing family. Margarita cleaned houses, hotel rooms, worked in nursing homes and also as a home health worker. Margarita would often be found counseling co-workers on how to find better opportunities for themselves and their families.

Margarita’s hard work paid off for her family, and her dream of having her kids attend universities and graduate schools in the United States was realized.

Margarita loved spending time with her siblings including all of her nieces and nephews and their families. This gave her so much joy.

Margarita is survived by her three children and their families: Victor Fleury and his wife Jacqueline and their children, Christina and Alexander; Grecia Fleury and her son, Brandon; and Gustavo Resendiz and his wife Mary, and their children, Nicholas, Katherine and Daniel.

Margarita was a loving mother and grandmother. Margarita’s passion for community will live on through her family.

Calling hours for Margarita will be 10am-Noon on Saturday, June 17th at Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home located at 157 Maple Street, Lynn, Massachusetts, with a service at Noon at the same location.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to La Vida Scholars, an organization assisting under-resourced and under-represented teens in Lynn and Chelsea obtain optimal college opportunities (https://lavidascholars.org/donate/).