Maria de la Concepcion Viera Rodriguez Zarragoitia

Maria de la Concepcion Viera Zarragoitia, 91, passed away on June 15, 2023 in Mandeville, Louisiana. Maria, who was known to friends as “Conchita” (“little seashell”), was the second of five children born of the marriage between Angel Vicente Viera Victorez and Josefa Ernestina Rodriguez Suarez both natives of Havana, Cuba. Her parents predeceased her, and she was the last of her four siblings as well, and their names were Gilberto Gerardo Viera (Luisa) of Miami, Florida, Ignacio “Corojo” Pablo Viera of Havana, Cuba, Caridad Ana Viera Enrich (Tom) of Corpus Christi, Texas, Rafael Alfredo Viera (Yrene) of Gretna, Louisiana. 

Maria was born on August 19, 1931 in Guira de Melena, Havana, Cuba. She was married to Carlos Manuel Zarragoitia Ledesma on July 11, 1950, who also predeceased her. Mima, as she was known to her family, is survived by her three children, namely Raquel Esperanza Zarragoitia Mitchell (Eric Sidney Mitchell) of Kenner, Louisiana, George Zarragoitia (Angela, née Farmer) of Gainesville, Georgia, and Sara Zarragoitia Wood (Morgan Jeb Hancock Wood) of Mandeville, Louisiana; her nine grandchildren, namely, Eric Sidney Mitchell, Jr., who predeceased her, Carlos Manuel Mitchell (Racheal, née Block), Mark Anthony Mitchell (Melissa née Chatelain), George Zarragoitia, Jr., Morgan Jeb Hancock Wood, Jr., Joseph Zarragoitia, Alexandra Morgan Elise Wood, Grant Alexander Quinn Wood, and George Grant Jefferson Wood; and her three great-grandchildren, namely, Gavin Carlos Mitchell, Matthew Giovanni Mitchell, and Madelynn Maria Mitchell. Mima was adored and loved as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was also so loved and revered as an aunt that her obituary would be remiss if it failed to include her beloved nieces and nephews, who also survive her, and most of whom were by her side together with her children and grandchildren at her passing, namely, Angel Viera, Gilbert Viera, Alberto Revilla, Jessy Enrich, Ana Dufresne, Rafael Viera, Jr., Felix Viera, and too many great-nieces and great-nephews to name with the exception of one great-niece, who was a kindred spirt, and also her traveling buddy later in life, Jaclyn Duboue.

Maria came to America 62 years ago to escape the atrocities of communism in Cuba. She flew into Miami and lived there briefly before settling down in the New Orleans area. She graduated cosmetology school in 1968, was licensed in Louisiana, and worked as a beautician at the Krauss Department Store on Canal Street in New Orleans. She proudly  became a U.S. citizen in 1976. She then realized her American dream when she bought her Metairie home, where she resided for 47 years until her passing. Later in life, she worked in retail and spent her off time babysitting for family and friends, and also caring for her mother, who lived with her. Eventually, her retail career took her to Macy’s Department Store. She was employed by Macy’s, when it opened at the Esplanade Mall in Kenner in 1986, and she remained there until her retirement in 1999. 

Maria loved her family more than anything else in the world and she was always helping out in every way possible. Her charity, patience and kindness towards family and friends were remarkable. Maria was also an exceptional cook, blending her Cuban traditions with her love of Cajun cuisine.  She loved cooking for her family and friends. For that reason, she loved get-togethers of any kind and of any size. More than cooking and socializing, however, she loved to fish and catch crabs. Oh my! How she loved being in a boat or on the shore doing either of those activities, especially with her grandchildren. She also loved to travel and remained close to so many in her family because of her willingness to get in a car or on a plane and travel to visit any of them at a moment’s notice. When she wasn’t traveling to visit with family, then she was on the phone chatting with them and keeping abreast of each one’s life. She was a great listener and she gave the best advice. She always gave of herself freely to any of our needs. To so many of us, she was an integral part of our daily lives. The pain of losing her is felt deeply by all who knew and loved her, but we are comforted in our belief that her strong Catholic faith has her looking down on each of us from heaven and watching out for us, as she did when she was here by our side. Mima was an inspiration and an example of a life well lived. She will be dearly missed by everyone in her family and her many friends and she will never be forgotten.

A funeral mass will be held in her honor on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Church, 312 Lafitte Street, Mandeville LA 70448