Obituary of Santiago F. Pascual

Santiago Francisco Pascual (Cabi), 89, and his beloved wife, Esther Milagros Pascual, 88, who most recently lived in Ardmore, PA passed away. Cabi passed away on September 26, 2023, and Esther joined him 10 days later, on October 6, 2023. Santiago had Alzheimer's for a long time and Esther was lovingly dedicated to his care.

Cabi, who was 1 of 8 siblings, was born in Cárdenas, Cuba on December 30, 1933, to Felicitas Sanz and Francisco Pascual. Esther was born in Jovellanos, Cuba on April 9, 1935, and was the only child of Juan and Juana Nodarse.

In Cuba, they had a good and meaningful life surrounded by family and friends. Santiago was an accountant and Esther was an elementary school teacher. Like many other Cubans, they could not live under the oppressive Castro regime and took risks and made sacrifices to come to the USA seeking freedom and a better life for their daughter. In the late 1960s, they left their beloved Cuba and moved to Vineland to be close to Cabi's older brother, Alejandro Pascual, and sister, Elba Pascual Romero. They started a new life, learned a new language, returned to college, and earned Bachelor's degrees from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University). They became social workers at the Cumberland County Social Services where they worked sitting next to each other for over 30 years. With support from their friends and family, they integrated into the Vineland community, which became their second home. Along with other Cuban "compadres," they became active members of the "Liceo Cubano" (Cuban club).

Cabi and Esther helped many immigrants personally and professionally build a life in Vineland, New Jersey. They never forgot their Cuban roots and supported and visited their family in Cuba when possible.

They were humble and generous people, loved by many. They treated everyone who entered their home like family - with an abundance of love, kindness, and generosity.

They both were preceded in death by their parents and all of Santiago's siblings. They will be reunited in heaven with many friends and family, hopefully with a "Cafecito" to welcome them to their eternal home.

Cabi and Esther are survived by their daughter Esther Pascual Hrabrick, married to Stephen Hrabrick, and grandchildren, John Blaize Hrabrick, Natalie Marie Hrabrick (resides in Boston), and Carter Jay Hrabrick who live in Bryn Mawr, PA, and by their nephews and nieces Alejandro Pascual, Margarita Betancourt, Marta Pérez, Rosario Finalé, Mari Finalé, Carlos García, Alberto Del Pino, Humberto Del Pino, Elba Romero Hildebrant, Antonio (Tony) Romero, and Carmen Lourdes (Lula) Michna.

Friends and family will be received at DeMarco-Luisi Funeral Home in Vineland, NJ on Sunday October 29, 2023, from 11:30am to 1:30pm. Memorial service will start at 1:00pm.

They will be buried alongside the resting place of Esther's parents in Siloam Cemetery in Vineland, where they lived for over 40 years.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital [https://raise.stjude.org/fundraiser/5026334], Esther's favorite charity, Or the Alzheimer's Research Foundation [https://tinyurl.com/2p958c69].

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to friends and family for their love and support during this difficult time.