Margarita Emilia Lara Fernandez (Mamivita) December 7, 1930 – May 13, 2025

Margarita Emilia Lara Fernandez, lovingly known as Mamivita, passed away peacefully on May 13, 2025, at the age of 94.

Born on December 7, 1930 in Viña del Mar, Chile to Justo Lara and Adela Fernandez, Margarita lived a life deeply rooted in faith, family, and joy. She was a devoted mother to four children, a proud grandmother to 12, and a joyful great-grandmother to 10—each one a cherished part of her heart. To many others, she was lovingly embraced as a maternal figure, offering unconditional love, wisdom, and care.

Margarita’s love for her family was surpassed only by her love for the Lord. Her life was a testament to unwavering faith—marked by a deep commitment to studying the Word of God, serving in her church, and filling her home with the melodies of coritos. She was known for sitting faithfully in the front pews, reciting memorized scripture, and proclaiming “¡Aleluya, Gloria a Dios!” with a voice full of conviction and joy.

Margarita is survived by her children, Eduardo, Iván, Mónica, and Carlos; her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and by the many lives she touched through her boundless love and generosity. She was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband, Carlos Joel Cisternas Lazcano.

A celebration of Margarita’s extraordinary life will be held on Saturday, May 24, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Kedz Funeral Home, Toms River, NJ 08753.

Her joy, her songs, and her beautiful spirit will be profoundly missed—but the echoes of her love will live on in all of us.