Rafaela Jones

Celebrating the Life of Rafaela Ruiz Jones

Sunrise, July 10, 1936

Sunset, November 3, 2015

Rafaela Ruiz Jones was born to Aristides Ruiz and Clara Luz Quintana, on July 10, 1936 in Guantanamo, Cuba. She was the second child of 14 children. Raised by her paternal grandmother, Natalia Ponz Ruiz in a very privileged home in Guantanamo, Cuba. She studied Education in a private all girl college in Cuba, where she was very popular and loved.

Fela, as she was lovingly known to all, married her childhood sweetheart, Arnoldo M. Jones on October 19, 1958 in Guantanamo, Cuba. From this beautiful union they had three children, Rodulfo Arnold Jones (Arnolin) Ofelia Jacqueline Gonzalez (Jacqui) and Dania Adis Jones (Chuly or Dini). Fela adored the beautiful family she and Arnoldo created and thoroughly enjoyed being a stay-at home mother and wife.

On April 14, 1971, Fela and her husband emigrated to the United States with their three small children. They settled in the Bronx, and she began her 27 years employment with Barnard College until her retirement in March 1998.

One of Fela's great past times was traveling with her husband. They visited many countries such as Spain, Hawaii, Brazil, Panama, Morocco, Mexico, Canada and various cities in the United States. Part of her traveling escapades included cruises. In 1986, she sailed on her first cruise with her husband and from that first initial cruise, Fela as well as Arnoldo developed their strong affinity for the cruise life. They were blessed to have had the experiences of 26 different cruise trips mainly on their favorite cruise line, Holland America. Fela's daughters and two of her grandsons had the opportunity to cruise with them until her husband's untimely death in January 2010.

Fela was many things; loving, affectionate, devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was vivacious, giving, kind and always had a big smile on her face with a happy disposition. She was often told, first by her grandmother and then by her husband to "lower your voice". With a presence that commanded any room and a distinct voice, everyone knew when Fela spoke a word. She loved to cook for her family and host parties. Her favorite dishes to prepare were arroz con pollo and flan, using her grandmother's recipe

Fela leaves to cherish her memory, her children, Arnolin, Jacqueline, Dania, grandchildren, Natalie, Nathaniel, Jessica, Nicholas, Jason, Ashley, Nadia, Barry, great-grandchildren, Jazming, Makai, and Nylah, brother-in-law, Alberto Jones, sister-friend, Gloria Brebner, brothers, sisters, family and friends in Cuba and in New York. Fela will always be remembered by all those that loved her, for her beautiful soul, her exuberant personality, and a smile that no one could match.

May She Rest in Peace

The Jones, Boncamper and Gonzalez Family