In memory of Otilia Mariña, MD

A holy woman who dedicated her life to serving the poor has gone home to the Lord, her body ravaged by liver cancer. And those blessed to have called Dr. Oti Mariña our friend are heartbroken.

Cuban-born Oti was a physician who chose not to accumulate riches for herself, which moths and rust destroy, but to store them in heaven. I affectionately called her "the Mother Teresa of Cuba."

Oti lived an almost monastic life. She never married. In her youth, she dreamt of becoming a medical missionary and fulfilled that dream in exile. After the communist takeover of Cuba, Oti moved to Venezuela, where she studied medicine, graduating in 1972. She interned at Grant Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, specializing in Geriatric Medicine. Oti opened her private practice in 1987 in Apopka, Florida, and spent her life as a physician to the poor. She performed missionary work in Guatemala and Honduras. As chair of the Cuban Apostolic Mission, Oti worked with the Catholic Church in Cuba to provide life-saving medicine and medical equipment to the suffering people on the island. Before her death, she named a successor to ensure the organization continued.

As long as I knew her, she dedicated her Saturdays to treating farm workers in Pierson, Florida. She never charged them for her services. She would frequently treat people who could not pay for her services in her office. She never turned anyone down.

Oti is now with her beloved Lord. She will never be forgotten. Her Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Winter Park, Florida, on Thursday, June 26th at 10:30A.M.

I lieu of flowers, family is requesting donations to the Cuban Apostolic Mission. You can make your donation via Zelle at Medpacuba@gmail.com or send check to Norma Lerner, 2295 Northumbria Drive, Sanford, Florida 32771

So long, dear friend. Thank you for the testimony of your life.