Teresa Cuevas (Ponce) de Brane

She recalls growing up as a poor campesina girl, yet she considered herself rich due to the strong family values her mother instilled in her, that of Love, Togetherness of Family, Faith in God, Honesty, Hard Work and Above All Perseverance. These were the principles of her life and so with this Knowledge Teresa would move forward and become one of the first pioneering Puerto Rican women to journey to East Chicago, Indiana.

Teresa was born in Lares, Puerto Rico on February 19, 1930 to Florencio Cuevas, Velez and Maria Cuevas, Balaguer. She was the sixth of seven children born to this couple. Her brothers are Jose, Luis, Anastacio, Enrique, Bernardo and her one and only sister Isabel.

In 1949 Teresa married Francisco (Paco) Ponce and the following in the year their son, Jesus Francisco, was born. Shortly after Paco left his loving family in search of the American dream. Later that year Teresa and their son joined him in Indiana, and so this marks the start of Teresa's pioneer saga.

Upon her arrival she joined her husband and soon opened her home to boarders as so many other women did in order to feed the hundreds of new arrivals who had come to work in the steel mills.

In 1952 she had a child, a daughter, Elsie was born. By this time Teresa had mastered the English language. Found a job at St. Catherine’s Hospital and also worked part-time for Dr. Hayes. In 1956 her third child was born a daughter Sylvia Milagros. By then she was a stay at home mom and take care of the children. Between 1952 & 1956 she lost a baby boy whom she named Edgard. Lastly, 1959 a brother John and sister Wanda would join the growing family. After her second marriage to Ward Brane, she opened once again her home to Ward Brane Jr.  

By 1963 and all of the children are now in school full time, so Teresa decides to pursue her lifelong dream and go to beauty school, finishing in 1965, obtaining her license and opening her own shop which she operates for the next six and a half years.

Many changes were to follow, Teresa would move to Hammond, she continued to reach out for the Hispanic community working for the migrant council from 1968 to 1972 first as field worker and finally as director. In 1971 she was selected director of the year for the state of Indiana and in 1972 she was appointed to the governor's commission on migrants. She also worked as a Community Activist for senior citizens. In 1983 she was elected Precinct Committee member and the following year she was appointed the first Hispanic ever to serve on the City of Hammond Water Board. In between her work and family, she still has time to be involved in political, social, and educational organizations that are instrumental in ensuring Hispanic young and old of their rights in Lake County.

Teresa’s love has extended to her CHILDREN and their beloved SPOUSES; Jesus (Frank) & Minerva, Elsie & Carlos, Wanda & Fernando (Nan) Silvia & Humberto, Ward Brane Jr., & John Jr. & Rosemary Martinez.

Teresa is the Proud Grandmother of Twelve Grand-Children; Anjel, Geraldo & Julian, Gezia & Isaac, Stephanie & Tony, Victor, John III, Matthew, Martina, & Melissa.

In Addition to Eighteen Great-Grand-Children; Jordan, Xavier, Savanah, Jaelyn & Julian Jr., Domingo & Franky, Alessandra & Maddox, Jayson, Jazmin & Humberto Jesus, YaNellys & Sofia, Caylah, Kanye, Ray, & Ava.