Dominga "Mimi" Ungaro

Dominga "Mimi" Ungaro, 67, was born to Vicente Fragosa and Esther Corcino in Fajardo, Puerto Rico and lived her formative years in the beautiful and tranquil Luquillo, Puerto Rico. Mimi was the class president of her senior class and graduated with cum laude honors from the University of Puerto Rico. She loved the island and never planned to leave but the opportunity arose for her to spend a year in the United States. Her mom encouraged her to expand her horizons and even though it was a daunting prospect to leave her rural farm life for the big city, Mimi decided to pursue her internship as a Registered Dietician at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. It was a huge culture shock for her, as she was still learning English and everything was so new and different. Even though she planned to return to Puerto Rico as she was so homesick, she made the most of it. One day, on the urging of a friend to accompany her to an English class, she attended and met a fellow classmate, a shy but striking heart surgeon who was also planning to return to his respective hometown, Lima, Peru. After a whirlwind romance, she married Ruben in 1970. Along the way they lived in various locales including Michigan, Missouri, and Peru. They eventually settled in South Florida and raised their five lively children there. Mimi was an amazing person! Not only did she dedicate her life to raising her five kids but she touched everyone she met and treated all with dignity, no matter their station in life. She made friends everywhere she went with her disarming personality and fun-loving ease. She loved life with a fierce passion and gusto; she loved music and singing and dancing and cooking the best food anyone had ever tasted. Mimi and Ruben celebrated forty-five years of marriage this past October and were able to enjoy a wonderful karaoke-filled Sanksgeebing in Gainesville just two months ago. Even after her pancreatic cancer diagnosis in 2010, she maintained her positive outlook and became the encourager of those who broke down when they would hear about her diagnosis. She endured countless painful treatments including surgeries, chemo, and radiation, in an effort to stay with her family as long as possible. She was the strongest person everyone knew and on January 23rd she was an angel on earth no longer and was released from all suffering. She is survived by her husband, two sisters, five children, and sixteen grandchildren. Please join family and friends in celebrating Mimi's life this Saturday, January 30th at St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church located at 1400 Riverside Drive, Coral Springs, FL 33071. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network; visit one of the following links to support the fundraising efforts of "Mimi's Milers": http://purplestride.kintera.org/newyorkcity/mimismilers http://purplestride.kintera.org/miami/mimismilers 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.