Maria Josefa San Juan Estupiñan de Novas
To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.
Obituary
Maria Josefa San Juan Estupiñan de Novas passed away on Friday January 16th, 2026 at the age of 93, surrounded by love and the legacy of a life devoted to beauty, learning, faith, and service.
Maria was a woman of many gifts—an author, poet, educator, artist, baker, and lifelong mentor to everyone lucky enough to sit beside her, listen to her stories, or learn from her gentle wisdom. She authored five books spanning children’s literature, anthropology and culture, poetry, biographical works, and art—a reflection of her deep curiosity and her belief that knowledge should be shared, preserved, and made accessible to all.
A self-taught artist, Maria expressed her inner world through oil, watercolor, and pastels, most often painting flowers, still life, and nature. Her work lives on in the many original pieces she leaves behind—created on canvas, paper, and wood—each one a reminder of her eye for color, detail, and quiet wonder. Her favorite colors, turquoise and lavender, felt like her spirit made visible: calm, radiant, and unforgettable.
Maria carried joy in the simple things. She adored Disney—especially the classic “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”—and in more recent years found delight in films like “Raya and the Last Dragon.” She loved music that stirred the soul: classical, opera, and romantic ballads, with Plácido Domingo and Julio Iglesias among her favorites. And she never lost her sense of imagination—from childhood days of dress-up and dramatic plays with dolls, shared with her little sister, to the way she made ordinary moments feel meaningful.
Her love was also something you could taste. Maria was a devoted family cook and baker, known especially for making buñuelos and her famous Camarones y Langosta Enchilados (Shrimp & Lobster Diablo). She loved many dishes, but her heart belonged to chocolate in all forms—especially chocolate milk—a small joy that never failed to make her smile.
Maria’s life was rooted in purpose. Before leaving Cuba, she served as a Youth Group Leader for the Matanzas Presbyterian Church, volunteering her time to help those in need—an early expression of the compassion and leadership that would define her life. She later became deeply involved with La Academia NorteAmericana de Literatura Moderna Internacional, serving as co-host of the weekly online show “Literatura Visión” (2018–2024). Through this work, she also represented the organization as an advocate for literary accessibility in developing nations at the United Nations, and she received UNESCO recognition for her contributions—honors that reflected not only her talent, but her dedication to uplifting others.
Above all, Maria was a teacher through and through. She graduated with a teaching degree in 1954 and taught elementary and secondary school for 13 years in Cuba. Even when life changed and she could not continue teaching in the same way in the United States, she never stopped learning—and never stopped guiding others. She later supported senior residents in Hudson County through Remotivational Therapy, bringing dignity and encouragement to those who needed it most. In 1993, she retired as Assistant to the Director of Medical Records at Meadowview Hospital in Secaucus, closing a professional chapter defined by responsibility, care, and quiet excellence.
Maria lived by a simple truth that she carried like a compass: “Never live with ‘what ifs.’” She believed in choosing love, choosing courage, and choosing the moment you are in—fully.
Maria was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Candido “Felix” Novas, who passed in August 2022. Their love—steadfast, tender, and enduring—remains part of her story, and part of the family she built.
She is survived by her sister, Rosalia De La Soledad; her daughter, Maria T. Novas-Ruiz; her son-in-law, Hugo R. Ruiz; and her granddaughter, Alexandra F. Ruiz, who will carry her name, her lessons, and her light forward.
A service to honor Maria’s life will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Maria’s memory to the Shriners Children's Hospital and Saint Jude Children's Hospital, honoring her lifelong devotion to helping others.
Maria’s life was a story—beautifully written, lovingly lived, and generously shared. Her light remains in her words, her paintings, her faith, and the family she loved so fiercely.
Services will held at the following location:
Monday January 19th, 2026
Morgado Funeral Home
525 45th St, Union City, NJ 07087
3:00PM - 5:00PM
This service is for family only.
Parking entrace off of JFK Blvd. 44th St.
Gallery
Memory wall
Family tree
Maria's Favorites
Children's Literature
Anthropology & Culture
Poetry
Biographicals
Oil
Watercolor
Pastels
She loved painting flowers, still life, and nature ans she leaves behind several original works on canvas, paper, and wood.
She loved many other Disney movies including most recently Raya the Last Dragon.
She also represented the non-profit as an advocate on literary accessibility in developing nations in the United Nations.
She recieved an UNESCO award for her contributions and work.
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Together, let us continue the legacy of compassion and kindness that Maria embodied throughout their life.
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Saint Jude Children's Hospital
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