"Dearly Loved and One who Loved Dearly"

Dolores "Lola" M. Fisher – 85 of Winter Park, Florida – passed away on Wednesday, September 17, 2014. Lola was born May 2, 1929 (in the northern coastal city of Gibara, Oriente in Cuba) to Eugenio and Domitila Vives Balius.

She is survived by her loving daughter (Ana D'Estrada) and son (Franklin Duque-Estrada and daughter-in-law, Diana Duque-Estrada), along with grandchildren (Christina Estrada, Joel Duque-Estrada and Elliott Duque-Estrada); and great granddaughter, Ellie Perkins.

Lola was a beautifully-spirited and vibrant individual who loved God and people with all her heart. In turn, she was loved by all who knew her. Lola lived life fully and fearlessly! She was always up for a challenge – from going down-hill skiing for the first time at 60+ to whitewater rafting and tubing at 70+.

One of Lola's greatest challenges (and blessings) was leaving her home of Cuba following communism to come to the United States to seek freedom and liberty; she left all that she knew, along with all her husband (temporarily) and all their possessions; and came to the states with only one suitcase, her toddler daughter and pregnant with her son.

Lola's greatest love and joy was her family. She cited (as a young girl) that her heart's desire was to marry and have a family; she felt very blessed to have had a daughter and a son. Another great love for Lola was her grandchildren and her great granddaughter.

Also, Lola's extended family was a source of love and joy! As a Cuban-American, her extended family ties were significant; and she enjoyed strong bonds with her parents, brothers/sister, aunts/uncles and nieces/nephews.

Lola's early childhood was one that she was fond of sharing, as it was full of sweet memories. She was the youngest of four (Eugenin, Pepe and Tete) and was very active and precocious. She particularly remembers her time living on the estate of a large sugar plantation. Here she enjoyed playing outside with her brothers and sister, and a menagerie of animals (a spider monkey, pork-belly pig and assorted dogs). She was (many-a- times) the instigator of pranks; climbing coconut trees and hurling coconuts down below. Her parents traveled with their four children to Europe and the states; Lola recalls her trip to NY in particular, as she remembers seeing the original "King Kong" at Radio City Music Hall.

Lola's young adult life was also very blessed and memorable. She was able to enjoy the "best of Cuba" during this era. She embraced life fully and was active in swimming, sailing, rowing and dancing. These were some of her greatest pastimes.

Additionally, Lola loved the U.S. passionately. She readily recognized that without the opportunity to have emigrated from Cuba to the U.S. her life story (and that of her children and grandchildren/great grandchildren) would have all been very different!

Some of Lola's favorite things were: roses; the color green; desserts (especially apple pie and "charlota rusa," a Spanish dessert; she was known for her sweet tooth); biking; and reading.

Lola will be very much missed! We hold to God's promise that we will see her again and be reunited forever! (He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" Rev. 21:4)

The Memorial Service for Lola Fisher will be held at Calvary Assembly of God, located at 1199 Clay St., Winter Park, FL 32789 on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 1:30 PM with Pastor George Cope officiating.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Arthritis Association for Rheumatoid Arthritis
( http://www.arthritis.org ), or the COPD Foundation ( http://www.copdfoundation.org ).