Carmen Benavides Diaz

Carmen Benavides Diaz, also known as ‘Ting’ and ‘Chiquitica’, of Hollywood, Florida, passed away on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the age of 101. Carmen was born on March 5, 1924, in Havana, Cuba, where she grew up. She lived four years in Greensburg, Pennsylvania while attending school; and in Miami Springs FL from 1950-1956 with her husband & daughter before they returned to Cuba to be near family. After the birth of their 2^nd daughter and the start of the Cuban Revolution, they returned to south Florida in 1960 and settled in Hollywood.

Carmen attended St. Joseph’s Academy for Girls, Seton Hill, in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, now known as Seton Hill University. She worked for 25 + years for the Broward County School system as a teacher’s assistant & proctor for learning disability testing. Carmen volunteered with St. Vincent de Paul Society at Little Flower Catholic Church in Hollywood before moving to Carriage Hills. She later attended Nativity Catholic Church and served for 25 consecutive years for the Columbiettes and was awarded an honorary lifetime membership for her faithful & dedicated service. Carmen also served as a Eucharistic minister. Upon retiring she also volunteered at Oak Ridge Elementary School in Hollywood.

Carmen is preceded in death by her parents Olimpia & Ramon Benavides, sister Maria Elena Benavides, brother Isidoro Benavides and her husband of 36 years Gaston G. Diaz. She is survived by two daughters Maria-Elena Diaz of Hollywood FL & Annie Diaz-Cannon (Scott) of Arlington VA, two grandchildren Dawson Cannon of St. Petersburg FL & Elena Cannon of Richmond Va, goddaughter/niece Jeanne Ali of Hollywood FL, godson/nephew Patrick Benavides (Nikki) of Portland OR, godson Tony Forrest (Estella) of Dallas TX; and nephews & nieces, cousins and several dear friends that she always considered her family.

Carmen was very proud of her Cuban heritage and loved to tell stories about life growing up on a beautiful & cultured island in the West Indies. She also loved the USA and became a US citizen in the early 1970s. She was passionate about her faith and swore she could not fall asleep at night without saying the rosary. Carmen loved to dance, was a beautiful seamstress, loved opera, big band, classical music and enjoyed playing Bunco.

The family would like to thank Linda Cavallo and her wonderful staff at Lifestyle Living for the care and compassion they showed Carmen for the past five years and during her final days at their beautiful assisted-living home. They are truly angels.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Mass service at Nativity Catholic Church, 5220 Johnson Street, Hollywood FL, on Wednesday, August 20^th at 11 am. A reception will follow the service. Please wear your favorite colors. Interment will be held at the South Florida National Cemetery, 6501 S. State Road 7, Lake Worth, Florida, on Thursday, August 21^st at 10am (if attending, pls arrive 15 minutes early, enter Lane #5).

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Carmen B. Diaz’s honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. www.stjude.org

For those unable to attend, the funeral mass will be livestreamed.  To view the funeral mass via livestream, please click on the button below.