Lilia Eugenia Suau

Born in Cuba on September 14, 1938, Lilia was affectionately given the nickname La Niña by her grandmother, who helped raise her and her five brothers. As the only girl among the six siblings, Lilia held a special place in the family. Their grandmother gave the children affectionate nicknames that stayed with them throughout their lives, creating a lasting connection to their childhood and the woman who helped raise them.

While growing up in Cuba, Lilia met and fell in love with Raul. They were married on September 15, 1957. Several years later, they welcomed their first child, Raul Jr., followed by their daughter, Yolanda, two years later.

In the early 1970s, Lilia and Raul moved their young family to the United States to begin a new chapter of their lives. They put down roots in Michigan, where their youngest son, Mario, was born in 1973. Both worked hard to provide for their children and build a future for their family. Raul worked at Chrysler, and Lilia first worked at Lionel Trains before they both went on to work at Combine International, a jewelry manufacturer. Lilia remained there until her retirement.

Above all else, Lilia was devoted to her family. She was an exceptionally warm, loving, and caring woman whose greatest happiness came from being with the people she loved. She had a special gift for making others feel cared for and nowhere was that gift more evident than in her cooking. An amazing cook, Lilia poured her love into every meal she prepared. Cooking was her greatest passion, second only to her family, and the food she made was one of the many ways she expressed her deep and abiding love for them.

Lilia also loved traveling to visit family in Florida and New Jersey. Those visits were a cherished way to stay connected with loved ones, and she treasured the time she spent with them. As health challenges made traveling more difficult over the past two decades, her devotion to her family remained at the center of her life.

Lilia's life was defined by the love she gave so freely to those around her. Her warmth, her caring nature, her dedication to providing for her family, and the love she shared through her cooking will remain part of the memories her family holds dear. Though her passing leaves a profound sadness, the love she gave and the place she holds in the hearts of her family will endure.

Lilia was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Yolanda (“Yoli”), who passed away in 2008, and four of her brothers. She is survived by her devoted husband, Raul; her sons, Raul Jr. and his longtime partner, Kim Thorsen, and Mario and his wife, Rose; her son-in-law, Mark Cunningham; her grandchildren, Lily Suau, Holly Cunningham, Haley Cunningham, Sean Cunningham, David Reynolds and Christopher Thorsen; and her brother, Jose “Chiqui” Perez.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association in memory of Lilia Eugenia Suau: https://www.heart.org/en/honor-memorial.