In Memoriam 1992-1997/Elena Tartabú Hernandez
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IN MEMORIAM 1992—1997 335
ELENA TARTABI’J HERNANDEZ 1928—1996
The Universal House of Justice was saddened to learn . . . of the passing of Mrs. Elena Hernandez, the first Bahá’í in Margarita Island, whose years of devoted and faithful service will be long remembered. Kindly convey to her family and friends the condolences of the House ofjustice and assure them of its fervent supplications at the Divine Threshold for the progress ofher soul throughout all the worlds of God.
Department of the Secretariat September 17, 1996
en Knight of Baha’u’llah Katherine Meyer came to Margarita Island in October of 1953 to open it to the Faith, Elena Hernandez was a young single woman who spent her days looking after her parents and sick relatives. Born on February 17, 1928, in a large but simple colonial house her father had built on Calle (street) Zamora in Porlamar, she was still living there when Katherine arrived. Her parents were humble people, her father a fisherman, her mother a seamstress.
Although she had only been to primary school, Elena was thirsty for knowledge, and in her rare moments of rest she liked to read or to listen to classical music.
Elena, after cooking and cleaning for the entire household, would spend hours baking. She never wanted to be a burden on her parents and learned to make beautifully decorated cakes that she would sell to earn some money.
Katherine, whom everyone called ula profesora” (the teacher), besides teaching English to earn a living, did “little kindly things for the people,” as Shoghi Effendi had advised her to do during her
pilgrimage. One of these little things was to help a niece of Elena in her studies. As the niece became interested in the Faith, Katherine lent her a book, and when Elena saw the book,'she asked ifshe could read it.
Of course, Elena became a Bahá’í, the first Margaritan, in 1961. Katherine said that she really had the spark of faith in her and that she quickly learned to teach the Faith with wisdom and constancy. After Katherine left the island in 1964 Elena never flinched in her efforts to spread the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. She taught all her relatives with love, patience, and a sense of humor that never abandoned her. She also shared the Teachings OfGod with her neighbors on Calle Zamora and with many people on different parts of the island.
Thanks to her efforts, Local Spiritual Assemblies were formed in Porlamar, Boco del Rio, la Isleta, and Villa Rosa.
After years of ill health and months of agonizing pain, during which time Elena amazed her family and friends with her strength, patience, smiles, and evident
Elma Ezrtabu’ Hernandez
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contentment with the will of God, she winged her flight to the Abhá Kingdom on July 22, 1996. Faithful to her wishes, at her funeral her Bahá’í friends and relatives proclaimed the Faith to the crowd that was present.
Her strong faith and admirable steadfastness are a source of strength for the pioneers she left behind in Margarita.
He'léne Nari