Evilia Marcela Pardillo

In Loving Memory of Evilia Marcela Morales de Pardillo

 

Evilia Marcela Morales de Pardillo, 91, of Arlington, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 17th, 2026 surrounded by her family. She had been facing the challenges of dementia.

 

She was born in Cuba during a different era on a family farm in the village of Ranchuelo, a municipality of Morón, —in Camagüey province—to her beloved parents, Evelio and Francisca.

 

Growing up on a farm in a musical family, Evilia spent her childhood helping with chores and joyfully singing and dancing with her younger siblings. Her father Evelio, was a talented guitarist in the guajiro tradition. Evilia inherited the singing talent and would entertain family and friends by creating new songs and melodies out of ordinary moments.

 

She married Jose Pardillo in 1950. Together they shared 53 years of marriage and built a life centered on family, food, special gatherings, and recreational outings.

 

In 1968, at the age of 33, Evilia made the courageous decision to leave her native Cuba for the United States on a “Freedom Flight” without her beloved husband. To build a new and better future, she embarked on this journey with her mother-in-law, her toddler son, two daughters, and the unborn child she was carrying—leaving behind her first-born son and family. Later, she would reunite with her husband in the U.S. and a sixth child became their third son.

  

In this new land, Evilia proved to be a resilient worker with an extraordinary work ethic. To support her family, she took on challenging jobs, including working as a custodian for government office buildings. Later, she enjoyed making people look and feel beautiful by selling them beauty and personal care products as an Avon sales representative —all while being the archetypal Cuban homemaker. She ultimately became an American citizen, a milestone she was deeply proud of achieving.

 

Her home became a warm, welcoming sanctuary, always filled with joyful chatter, music, singing, and the comforting, familiar aroma of stovetop-brewed "cafecito" prepared in her Moka pot. Evilia looked forward to visits from friends and family, keeping the vibrant spirit and rich flavors of Cuba alive for everyone who entered. She expressed her love through her incredible cooking, preparing wonderful Cuban dishes loved by all. In particular, her classic chicken fricassee-style Arroz con Pollo, served with black beans, rice, and fried plantains, became a beloved family tradition. In moments of leisure, she was an avid dominoes player and took special delight in collecting duck figurines.

 

As a matriarch who loved beyond measure, Evilia was a constant pillar of strength for her family. In 2001, she and her husband beautifully renewed their faith together, and she became an active and devoted member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

 

Evilia was preceded in death by her parents, Evelio and Francisca; her husband, Jose; her sisters, Ersilia and Enelda; and her brother, Eddy.

 

She is survived by her beloved sister, Ermia of Havana, Cuba. Her legacy of boundless love, humor, and resilient faith lives on through her six children: Julio (Belen), Mayda (Pedro), Maritza (Joel II), Jose-Louis (Jihyang), Maytte, and Jorge (Michelle). She is also survived by her ten cherished grandchildren: Jarel, Ali, Jassiel, Alain, Joel III, Joshua, Monica, Jacob, Jazzmyn, and Lea; and her twelve precious great-grandchildren: Johnathan, Julian, Joel IV, Allian, Aleyna, Arianna, Jaxon, Jonathan, Zara, Aamira, Mariella and Layla.

 

A service celebrating her life and legacy will be held at the Vienna Spanish Seventh-Day Adventist Church (114 Kingsley Rd SW, Vienna, VA 22180) on September 1, 2026, at 11:00 am. A family service will be held in her honor for her interment and will take place at Columbia Gardens Cemetery (3411 Arlington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201)