Ana "Anita" Sanchez Diaz

Anita came into this world with a smile that could melt the snow-capped Andes mountains of her birth country, Chile, on a winter's day. Born to Fernando Briones Sanchez and Adriana "Lola" Looff Kulczewski on a Thursday, August 24, 1933, in Valparaiso, Chile. Her birth name was Ana "Anita" Looff Sanchez. Bonita Anita. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on early Wednesday morning, July 17, 2024, at the age of 90, in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where she lived for the last year of her life with her middle son, Eduardo, and his family. She was married in Vina del Mar, Chile, to Gaston M. Cid-Diaz from 1955 until his death in 2008. She was a gifted student and athlete at her high school, Liceo de Vina. She was a champion diver and swimmer, was on the basketball team, and was a performer of poetry and original poetry that she would make up on stage from students' suggestions and have it rhyme. This was long before it was called "Slam Poetry." She and her family moved to this country in 1964 to New York City. She took two years of night courses to learn computer language. She was one of the first women, and most likely the first Latin woman, to work on Wall Street at Paine Webber in Data Processing and Computers in 1966. She was an astute investor in real estate, buying and selling 11 properties. After moving to Miami in 1973, she soon went to work at Coral Gables Hospital in the Data Processing Department as the Assistant Administrator. She worked there until her retirement in 1995. In 1997, Anita and her husband moved to Ocean Springs to be closer to their son and grandchildren. She went on to work part-time at St. Paul's Church, helping take care of children until 2015. She was an avid reader, loved to garden, and still enjoyed swimming.

Anita was predeceased by her husband, Gaston M. Cid-Diaz, by her father and mother, Fernando Briones-Sanchez, and Adriana "Lola" Looff Kulczewski. She is survived by her sons, Gaston M. Diaz, Eduardo G. Diaz (Natalia Dudakova Diaz), and Fernando P. Diaz. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her grandchildren Ana Alexandra Diaz-Hall, Sofia Anastassia Dudakova Diaz, Josh Anderson, and her great-grandson Theo Carson Diaz-Hall. She is also survived by her siblings, Adriana Sanchez-Gandara, Fernando Sanchez-Looff, Fernando Sanchez-Camus, and Maria Paz Sanchez-Camus, as well as extended family, relatives, and friends in Miami, New York, California, Chile, Sweden, and Finland. 

Anita's remarkable life will be celebrated on what would have been her 91st birthday on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at 4 PM at the home of Eduardo and Natalia Diaz. Contact Eduardo or Natalia on Facebook or by text.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Light ,and extend sincere appreciation to Danesha and Donna. Our heartfelt gratitude to Hidasha, Utica, and Tamesha at PCS Interactive and Karla Azuaje for the love, care, help, and support they provided our mother, allowing her to spend her last year at home with us. 

The family requests mass cards or donations to the charity of their choice in lieu of flowers. Also, be kind and helpful to your family, friends, and neighbors and bring a smile to them daily. It would be a great legacy for our mom, who always did that for everyone she ever met, spreading joy, love, and laughter. We will miss her beyond words.

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Ana "Anita" Sanchez Diaz.