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Maria Saray Duenas (“Sarita” and “Sary”), of Morehead, Kentucky, passed away peacefully in her home on Monday, March 14, 2022, at age 99 of natural causes. Sary was born on July 5, 1922, in Tumaco, Colombia, South America, to José Maria Duenas and Dora Marrett Duenas. Sary relocated to the United States in the late 1980s to be with family and has been a resident of Morehead, KY since the fall of 1995.
She was raised and completed her studies in Tumaco, Colombia. She and her family eventually moved to Cali, Colombia. She loved spending time with her grandma and family and was a devout Catholic steadfast to her faith from an early age. In Colombia, she was a skilled seamstress and created beautiful clothes and gowns, working independently.
Sary was a kind, patient, and humble woman who cared deeply for her family. As the oldest of eight siblings, Sary always had an innate ability to nurture and care for others. While in Colombia, she helped raise her nieces, Dora Cardenas Ahmadi and Martha Cardenas Elm (Martica). When Sary relocated to the United States, she lived with her niece and nephew-in-law, Dora and Ali Ahmadi, as they prepared for the birth of their first child. Sary helped raise Hassan, Amir, and Susan Ahmadi and had a significant role in their lives and upbringing while living in Morehead.
In Morehead, Sary was also incredibly involved with Jesus Our Savior Catholic Church. Sary loved The Lord with all her heart and developed several meaningful friendships through Church. After Mass on Sunday afternoons, prior to being homebound, you could often find Sary with her family at Huddle House enjoying the big breakfast special with a Cafecito.
If Sary had to be described in one word, it would be peaceful. She had a pure heart, humble spirit, and was a blessing to everyone who knew her.
Sary is survived by her devoted sisters, Rosie Duenas Martin, Ruth Violeta Cardenas, Carmen Alicia Olivera; her nieces and nephews, Dora Cardenas Ahmadi, Yaneth Cardenas Carmona, Edison Cardenas, Ruby Cardenas, Martha Cardenas Elm, Jose Cardenas, Alfredo Cardenas; and other beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, great nieces and nephews as well as great-great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Jose, Alfredo, Flavio and Francisco Duenas.
The family would like to extend our deepest thanks to Donna Hatton Stull for the loving care she provided for Sary over the years. The family also extends thanks to Gateway Area Development District, Personal Touch Home Care, and St. Claire Regional Medical Center hospital staff, home health workers, and palliative care staff for the compassionate care they provided Sary. A special thanks to Jesus Our Savior Catholic Church, Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals, as well as Sary’s many friends, family, neighbors, and acquaintances for their continued love and support over the years.
Visitation will be Friday, March 18, 2022, from 1 - 3 p.m. at Jesus Our Savior Catholic Church, 315 Battson Ave, Morehead, KY 40351. A Funeral Mass celebrating the life of Sary will begin at 3 p.m. at Jesus Our Savior with Reverend Joseph Von Handorf officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Alfredo Cardenas, Jose Cardenas, Edison Cardenas, Amir Ahmadi, Donna Hatton Stull, Paul Taylor, and Kevin Schack.
View memorial tribute or sign guestbook at www.northcuttandson.com
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