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NBC Anchor Soledad O'Brien Mourns the Loss of Her Mother 40 Days after Father's Death
NBC TV Anchor Soledad O'Brien painfully reveals that her mother passed away just 40 days after her father's death.
Soledad made the sad announcement on her Twitter account, paying tribute to her mother, Estela. The proud daughter shared her mother's long and meaningful journey, which started in Cuba. She lived with the Oblate Sisters of Providence in Baltimore when she migrated to the United States during her college years.
She always was sad about leaving Cuba—but hated how Castro had destroyed her country. She went back once to visit—and said—I’ll never go back again. I love this photo. Maybe the early 40s? pic.twitter.com/1HY9TVUaL6
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) March 18, 2019
O'Brien went on to share a few of her mother's wisest advice to her, including "Always keep $10 in your bra so you can leave," and "People are basically full of [expletive], stop taking their stupidity to heart."
My mom died today. Joining my dad who passed away 40 days ago. She was a pretty remarkable lady. An immigrant from Cuba, she lived with the Oblate Sisters of Providence in Baltimore during college. Here (on the left) she is in Cuba in the 1930s. pic.twitter.com/oZNzEqa7ig
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) March 18, 2019
She wished young women also had access to her mom's wisdom, which she believed could really help them get through life. Another advice she would always keep close to heart is,
"Take 24 hours to sit in bed and cry, then stop complaining and make a list and plan your comeback."
She’d go on to marry my dad (mixed race marriages were illegal in Maryland in 1959). The year their sixth child (my little brother) was born the US Supreme Court would overturn the ban on interracial marriage. Here she is with me and dad. pic.twitter.com/2sDaLc0LlQ
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) March 18, 2019
The 52-year-old went on to proudly say that her parents put all six of their children through college, as they both worked hard to get them there.
She learned two more languages fluently —English and French, and became an educator. She had a reputation for being super-strict, which made me very popular (not!) since she taught at my high school. pic.twitter.com/ew5GbCzsHi
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) March 18, 2019
Estela was 88-years-old when she passed away, while her husband Edward died in February 2019 at the age of 85. Estela lived a long and happy life in America with Soledad and the rest of their family.
She and my dad sent all six of us to college and many of us to grad school. Here we are touring Harvard. I’m scowling in the front row, age 12. pic.twitter.com/wKKIqDgRAp
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) March 18, 2019
She married her husband Edward in the 1950s, when interracial marriages were not yet legal across the country. Nonetheless, this did not stop them from living the lives they knew they wanted - together.
She was pretty awesome. But mostly I wish lots of young, working women had access to her wisdom. “Everyone gets the same 24 hours. Decide how you’ll spend yours”. “Take 24 hours to sit in bed and cry.. then stop complaining and make a list and plan your comeback” pic.twitter.com/VslASFmp5H
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) March 18, 2019
Throughout all their challenges, the O'Brien family made sure to face it together, even if it meant having no friends in their neighborhoods as they were the only black family, or having to put an ad in the local paper about trying to protest discriminatory housing in their community.
She was pretty great. Miss you, Mami. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Cnze9OENKQ
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) March 18, 2019
In the end, it all ended up leading them to a long and happy life together with their children, and that is something that Soledad will always rememeber and keep close to her heart.
