Obituary for Beatrice Soto
In loving memory of our mother, Beatrice Soto, who passed away peacefully on May 4, 2022, at 92 years of age. She was born on February 6, 1930, in Manhattan, NY to Carmen and Benjamin Valdivieso.
Our mother loved her family and provided for them. She was a strong woman who faced challenges in her life with courage and dignity. She was a kind, generous and caring person who put the needs of her family and friends before her own. She demonstrated love in her actions. As a teenager, she got a job at Butterick Patterns, learning how to cut patterns and became a seamstress. She helped support her parents and made her own clothing. When we were children, she loved gardening, decorating, and tending to her home in Throggs Neck, Bronx, NY where we lived with our grandparents. She loved to host fun gatherings with family and friends at home, playing music and dancing salsa with our father, family, and friends. Our mom loved to take pictures at every gathering and drove us a bit crazy positioning us to take good pictures. Even though we sometimes moaned, we did give her, her way and she had us take many, memorable pictures. Additionally, she loved traveling to various places in the world, taking photos of her travels. Our mom found solace in the serenity prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference. She found serenity enjoying her grandsons, spending time with them, swimming, watching movies together, playing dominoes and having dominoes tournaments with them.
She was an accomplished entrepreneur who helped our father expand his flower shop and later opened a bridal shop, in Harlem, NY. She used her skills, style, and grace in her shop to create wedding and bridesmaid dresses and helped all who came to her shop look beautiful. At various points in our lives, we all took part working in our dad’s flower shop and mom’s bridal shop as did other family members.
After her retirement, our mom moved to Florida and lived in a community in Boca Raton, Florida. She was a vibrant part of the community volunteering her time to help coordinate events for the residents, and helped the board manage building issues by overseeing a group of volunteer building monitors. She advocated for the residents at Boca Bayou, and all knew her admired and appreciated her.
She was the devoted wife of Genaro “Jimmy” Soto (deceased) and beloved mother of Richard Cabrera, James Soto, and Valentina (William) Soto-Waller. She was the loving grandmother of Rocco DeCelestino and Domenick (Ashley) DeCelestino and great-grandmother of Isabella DeCelestino and Domenick Carlo DeCelestino.
Our mother instilled in us the values of family, love, respect, optimism, pride in one’s work, determination, and community. She will be missed by all who knew her. Mom/Grandma Bea, thank you for the example you provided for us on how to live life well. You will always be in our hearts, and we will never forget you. We love you so much. Rest in peace.
Our mother loved her family and provided for them. She was a strong woman who faced challenges in her life with courage and dignity. She was a kind, generous and caring person who put the needs of her family and friends before her own. She demonstrated love in her actions. As a teenager, she got a job at Butterick Patterns, learning how to cut patterns and became a seamstress. She helped support her parents and made her own clothing. When we were children, she loved gardening, decorating, and tending to her home in Throggs Neck, Bronx, NY where we lived with our grandparents. She loved to host fun gatherings with family and friends at home, playing music and dancing salsa with our father, family, and friends. Our mom loved to take pictures at every gathering and drove us a bit crazy positioning us to take good pictures. Even though we sometimes moaned, we did give her, her way and she had us take many, memorable pictures. Additionally, she loved traveling to various places in the world, taking photos of her travels. Our mom found solace in the serenity prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference. She found serenity enjoying her grandsons, spending time with them, swimming, watching movies together, playing dominoes and having dominoes tournaments with them.
She was an accomplished entrepreneur who helped our father expand his flower shop and later opened a bridal shop, in Harlem, NY. She used her skills, style, and grace in her shop to create wedding and bridesmaid dresses and helped all who came to her shop look beautiful. At various points in our lives, we all took part working in our dad’s flower shop and mom’s bridal shop as did other family members.
After her retirement, our mom moved to Florida and lived in a community in Boca Raton, Florida. She was a vibrant part of the community volunteering her time to help coordinate events for the residents, and helped the board manage building issues by overseeing a group of volunteer building monitors. She advocated for the residents at Boca Bayou, and all knew her admired and appreciated her.
She was the devoted wife of Genaro “Jimmy” Soto (deceased) and beloved mother of Richard Cabrera, James Soto, and Valentina (William) Soto-Waller. She was the loving grandmother of Rocco DeCelestino and Domenick (Ashley) DeCelestino and great-grandmother of Isabella DeCelestino and Domenick Carlo DeCelestino.
Our mother instilled in us the values of family, love, respect, optimism, pride in one’s work, determination, and community. She will be missed by all who knew her. Mom/Grandma Bea, thank you for the example you provided for us on how to live life well. You will always be in our hearts, and we will never forget you. We love you so much. Rest in peace.