Maria Delores “Loly” Collery was born in Santiago de Cuba, April 16, 1960, to Georgina and Jose Santana. Her family emigrated to Venezuela where Loly spent her younger years. She and her brother came to the United States as students at LSU. During their matriculation, the rest of her family decided to emigrate to the United States as well. Loly suspended her studies at LSU to care for her mother, who arrived in Miami alone, while her father attended to their affairs in Venezuela. She subsequently enrolled at Florida Atlantic University to complete her studies and earn a BA in business.

After graduation, she worked for American Express and Chevron Corporation in Plantation, Florida. At Chevron she earned her masters in business administration. It was while at Chevron that she met her husband of thirty-nine years, John Thomas Collery. After moving to California, they were married at St. Dominic’s church in Benicia. Loly then worked briefly at the US Postal Service and, while there, Loly and John’s first son Thomas John was born in Vallejo, California.

After leaving the postal service, the couple decided to return to Florida so Loly’s parents could enjoy their grandchild and provide loving childcare. It was shortly after arriving that she began a long career as office manager for Sheridan Lumber Company in Hollywood, Florida, where she worked for over thirty years.

In 1995 their second son, Joseph Gerald, was born. By this time, Loly and John had already purchased a home in Sunrise where they lived for thirty-four years.

Loly was a kind and generous person beloved by all those she befriended. She was always smiling and quick with a laugh. Loly enjoyed cooking and was particularly skilled in Cuban dishes of all kinds. She loved to host large Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings at which her cooking was prominent. Loly particularly enjoyed Christmas because it gave her the opportunity to give. Her gifting was always extremely generous especially her donations to toy drives. She was a loving and beloved wife and a caring, nurturing and loving mother.

She passed away in her home on April 3 after a protracted struggle with cancer. Loly bore that struggle with courage, grace, and unflagging good humor. She was preceded in passing by her brother, Jose Santana, and sister, Mariela Santana. She is survived by her sister Georgina Garratt of Conroe, Texas, her husband John Collery of Sunrise, Florida, and sons Joseph Collery of Sunrise and Thomas Collery of New York City, New York.