She was born on December 9, 1931 in a tiny village in central Cuba. She was the oldest of five children born of Zoila Leon Cruz and Armando Villar Hernandez.
Maria left her home at the age of 23 and lived independently in Miami, working as a seamstress. She moved to Texas to complete her high school education, and then received her BS from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. While there, she became engaged to her husband, Josue Leija Cabrera. She was married in 1970. She worked as a substitute teacher and then as a Spanish language interpreter at Scott & White hospital, a job that she enjoyed tremendously. She used her translation skills and knowledge of Cuba to support the work of missionaries traveling there.
Mary was very involved in her church life. She read her bible and prayed daily. She enjoyed sewing, growing flowers, and caring for her family. It was her joy to help her Cuban family make the same trip that she made, after 30 years of separation.
Mary was generous in spirit, and shared her joy with all who met her.
She is survived by her husband, Josue Leija Cabrera, her son, Joshua Villar Cabrera, and grandchildren, Kaiji Gabriel Cabrera and Kenjiro Miguel Cabrera, all of College Station, TX, along with her sisters, Elena Villar Leon of Miami, FL and Celina Villar Leon, of Falcon, Cuba.
Her funeral service will be at 2:00pm Saturday, February 19, 2022 at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1401 W. Central Ave., Temple, TX with Dr. Ron Milne officiating. The viewing will begin at 1pm prior to the funeral service. Burial will follow at Bellwood Memorial Park, 8575 Airport Rd., Temple, TX.
Memorials may be sent in Mrs. Cabrera’s name to Twin City Mission, 2500 South College Avenue, Bryan, Texas 77801 (https://www.twincitymission.org/donation-resale-services).
