Luz Maria Landrove Soto

Luz Maria Landrove Soto, 98 years of age, passed away on Sunday May 3, 2020, at Atria Senior Living in Cranford, NJ.

Affectionately called Luciola by all who knew and loved her, she was born and grew up in Bayamo, Cuba to Francisco Soto Izquierdo and Eugenia Figueredo Vega. She was the second youngest in a large family, with three sisters and six brothers, all of whom served to guide and encourage her.

Luciola obtained a teaching degree from the College of Santa Clara, Cuba. Given her passion for young children, she became a Kindergarten teacher. Luciola married Andrés Manuel Landrove Aymerich on Christmas Day in 1949. She soon gave birth to her three loving sons Andrés Manuel, Jorge Carlos, and Ricardo Antonio. She dedicated the rest of her life to raising her sons and supporting them in every way that she could.

At age 46, Luciola became the driving force for emigrating her family from Cuba to the U.S. thereby forever changing their lives for the better. Upon arriving in the U.S., she settled in Elizabeth, NJ where the most trying phase of her life began. She worked in a series of factories, eventually settling at Emerson Quiet & Kool, where she toiled at an assembly line building air conditioners until her retirement, which to her surprise would last over thirty years.

Luciola's enthusiasm for sports began early on, as she played softball in Cuba, was a lifelong Yankees fan, and enjoyed watching Michael Jordan while still rooting for the Knicks. She loved music, played the piano, and was an avid dancer. Her opinionated political beliefs prompted her to regularly call radio talk shows. For years, Luciola worked for the Board of Elections to support the democratic process.

Her warm personality, quick-witted sense of humor, and can-do attitude will forever remain her legacy. Most of all, Luciola fought for her sons, for her family, and for herself. Without this fighting spirit, her sons would not be where they are today, nor would her life have been as rich and long as it was.

Luciola was predeceased by her husband in 2006. She is survived by her three loving sons, daughter-in-law Monica, beloved grandchildren Monica and George, his wife Anne, and her dearest great granddaughters Sophia and Caroline. Luciola is also survived by her sister-in-law Susu. She is warmly remembered by her extended family of nieces and nephews.

As a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Luciola succeeded more than she could ever have imagined. We will sincerely miss her presence and cherish her memory forever.

The Landrove family wishes to express their gratitude to the dedicated staff of Atria Senior Living, where Luz resided in the last season of her life. The kind nurses and staff who provided warm and loving care to "Mama Luz" will forever be in our hearts.