Ramonita Caro

Ramonita Caro passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 15, 2025 at the age of 86, surrounded by family, after a blessed life filled with love of family and friends.

“Ita” was born in Rincon, Puerto Rico on April 20, 1939 to Joaquin Matias, father and mother Rosa Ramos who passed away two years later. Her mother had been sick and knew her time was short and asked her husband to marry her best friend, Esperanza Matias known as “Epy”. Coming from very humble beginnings, Ita learned very quickly the meaning of hard work and sacrifice. At a very young age, she did chores and watched her siblings while her mother would hand stitch gloves for sale.

Although very young herself, she realized how much her family depended on her contributions, so she, without complaint or resentment, ended her own education, and took on running errands, like milking the cows and goats, bathing her siblings in order for her mom to continue making as many gloves as she could. Then in the late 1950’s her family moved to New York where she met the love of her life.

On December 22, 1957 she married the love of her life and life partner Heriberto Caro also known as “Libo” and “Hery”. Together they embarked on a new life of love and adventure in a much different island,

New York. In New York, they quickly became dependable fixtures in their community. They owned several small businesses and opened a Puerto Rican social club, bringing a little bit of Puerto Rico to the neighborhood. Libo and Ita had three children Heriberto (Junior), Joaquin (Joey) and Annette. In 1972 they decided to move back to Puerto Rico as youth violence was rapidly increasing in the Bronx.

Once in Puerto Rico, Libo and Ita established a basic necessity store (bodega) called “Libo’s Place”. It did not take long for their place to become the neighborhood meeting place where they formed a Domino Club. The Domino Club became well known on the island and in the Dominican Republic where they were invited for a friendly competition. Thanks to the catholic church community as well as her experience with “Cursillo de Cristiandad” Ita was able to accept with grace and serenity the loss of her eldest son, Junior, who passed away due to natural causes in 1977. Ita and Libo remained in Puerto Rico until1987 at which time the towns people and friends wanted them to stay and run for Major; instead, they moved to Florida to be near their son, Joey and their grandchildren.

Ita and Libo settled in Palm Bay, Florida where they both retired from Palm Bay High School and became

stalwarts in their church and Spanish speaking community…setting up and running numerous parish activities, charities and fundraisers. They were also highly regarded as ministers of the church and great marriage counselors. Not wanting to separate herself and lose touch with Puerto Rico, Ita joyfully watched Libo expose his grandchildren to nature and animals like goats, chickens, rabbits, even cows. She would make savory dishes with some of these animals as well as with the fruits and vegetables they grew in their land such as corn, avocado, oranges, beans, papayas, squash, mango, trees and the like. Her legacy in the community is that she has never met a person who has not become a friend or part of the family.

She is preceded in death by her husband Heriberto Caro, April 1, 1936- August 12, 2020; two sons, Junior, January 6, 1958 – January 4, 1977; and Joey January 13, 1959 – Apr 4, 2015. She is survived by her devoted daughter Annette. Her legacy of family is carried on by her grandchildren Heriberto, Wendy, Ashley (Joey) and Gerald, Ivan Jr (Annette); and his great grandchildren Nynavea (Heriberto) Deon, Mykel, Joshua (Wendy), Divya, Aviendha (Gerald), and Rayna, Joelley, Kalea (Ashley).

Ita will be greatly missed, but I am sure she would love for you to remember her with love, and laughter as she leaves a legacy of family and love to continue in her name. Mass and brief celebration of life will take place at 10:30, Saturday, June 28th, 2025 at Our Lady of Grace, 300 Malabar Rd, Palm Bay FL 32907.

A brief reception will be offered in the same location following Mass. If you wish to honor Ita’s memory, she would ask that you donate to the American Heart Association under Ramonita Caro.