Julia Pazos

Julia J. Pazos

(February 26, 1927 ~ May 1, 2025)

It is with deep sorrow and the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Julia J. Pazos, 98, at 9:52PM on Thursday, May 1, 2025, due to numerous medical complications, in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her nearest loved ones, while in hospice. 

Born in Caibarien, Las Villas, Cuba, to the late Pedro Bru and Consolacion Mier-Farach de Bru. 

She was an avid fan of the classic TCM movies. At 98, still knew all the actors' names and even sang along to the tunes; Jeopardy; Wheel of Fortune; American Idol; The Voice; America's Got Talent and her daily Catholic Mass, in addition to listening to her late cousin, Irene Farach's and her late son, Jorge Casas' music. Her love for travel took her and her late husband, Jose Pazos to Las Vegas once a year for two weeks, for many, many years, where they cultivated life-long friendships. 

Having close family members in Tulsa, OK, she was privileged to attend Monte Cassino High School for Girls, producing notable alumni, including actresses like Jennifer Jones and Olivia Jordan. She later returned to Cuba, post graduating to attend the Universidad de La Habana, which propelled her to a high government position in the "Tribunal de Cuentas" (Court of Auditors / Accounts), in charge of governmental body responsible for auditing public accounts. She was able to keep this position until filing paperwork for exile, losing her position immediately after filing, as a result of the Castro Communist regime. 

Separated from her two sons from her first marriage for two decades, at the hands of her ex-husband without her knowledge, whom she always thanked for taking them out of Cuba, as they were reaching the military age, though very young, eventually reuniting and starting from nothing in the Land of Freedom. 

Married to the love of her life, her second marriage, and very happily for 63 years, after living a very comfortable life, she was forced, as many Cubans, to relinquish all private properties, businesses and assets, and to reinvent the art of survival. Losing her position upon filing for exile, resulted in years to fend for herself, looking for any available work, while trading in the black market to survive. During this very difficult time, she endured the heart-wrenching decision to allow her only young daughter to exile to Spain with her father / mother / sister-in-law in March, 1969, with the very realistic, fearful possibility of never reconnecting, yet, hoping of eventually reuniting one day in the United States; a painful separation, lasting until July, 1970. 

These unconditional acts of love and courage made her the strong, reselient woman she became and admired by so many. 

Once settled in the United States, she worked in a factory while attending banking school in the evenings, a well-thought out decision which rewarded her with a career in banking for a quarter of a century, elevating her to an official position, experiencing the monumental first terrorist attack on the World Trade Center North Tower where she worked, on February 26, 1993, her 66th birthday; finally, retiring in the mid ‘90s. 

Consumed by a career, home, family and a very deep faith, she somehow managed to find time to help others, in teaching the English language and helping children with physical and intellectual disabilities. 

She achieved the “American Dream,” becoming a homeowner, securing a prestigious position and devoting her life to her family, faith, others and hard work. 

She leaves daughter / caregiver Mayra Enquist and husband Dean, of Lyndhurst, NJ; daughters-in-law Julia (Muñeca) Cordero de Casas of Caguas, PR, Gina Casas of Northport, FL; nephew, Abelardo Bru and wife Delia of Sarasota, FL; niece Julia Bru and wife Suzy Izaguirre of Madrid, Spain; goddaughter Alicia del Valle and husband Alex Vazquez of La Habana, Cuba; many cousins, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-nieces, and lifelong wonderful neighbors and friends. 

She is predeceased by immediate family members; husband Jose Pazos; sons Jorge and Pedro Casas and great-nephew Christopher Berrojo, in addition to many extended relatives. 

Julia will be deeply and sadly missed.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects and celebrate Julia’s remarkable life during the visitation, service and funeral at Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home 425 Ridge Road, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071, 201 438-4664, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, followed by entombment at Holy Cross Mausoleum, 340 Ridge Road, North Arlington, NJ 07031, 201 997-1900.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the following worthy charities:

American Heart Association National Center 7272 Greenville Avenue Dallas, TX 75231 800 242-8721 or outside the US: +1 214 570-5943

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 800 805-5856

Shriners Hospitals for Children 2900 North Rocky Point Drive Tampa, FL 33607 813 491-7174

Make A Wish Foundation Make-A-Wish® America 1702 East Highland Ave, Suite 400 Phoenix, AZ 85016 602 279-9474

Make-A-Wish® International Frits Spitsstraat 1, 1217 Wc Hilversum The Netherlands +31-35-740-0800