Mildred N. Figueroa's Obituary
Mildred N. Figueroa, or Millie, as she preferred to be called, passed away on November 15, 2024 of natural causes, she was 94. Formerly of St. Petersburg, FL, she resided in Oldsmar, FL. Born September 12, 1930, in Brooklyn, NY, she was the middle child of Nicomedes Nieves and Cruz Rosario. She graduated from the Brooklyn High School for Homemaking in Jan. 1948. After H.S. she started working at the N.Y. Telephone Co. as an Operator. Shortly thereafter she met her future husband during Latin Night at the Palladium in NYC and later married Frank M. Figueroa in Nov. 1950. She worked at the N.Y. Telephone Co. for 14 years and eventually earned a supervisory position. In 1962 they moved to Normal/Bloomington IL and shortly thereafter in 1964 relocated again to St. Petersburg, FL. There, Millie attended and later graduated from Florida Presbyterian College, now known as Eckerd College in Dec. 1965, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Millie had become a substitute teacher and taught at various schools including Eckerd College where her husband was a professor. She taught night classes as well, all over the Tampa Bay area. In 1966, Millie was hired as a full-time Spanish Teacher at Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg when the school first opened their doors. She went ahead and furthered her education by earning a scholarship and during the summer months attended the University of Southern Mississippi where she graduated in Aug. 1970 and attained a Master's Degree in Education. Whenever a student was at risk of failing one of her classes, she would volunteer her time after school to help tutor them, in an attempt to make them pass her Spanish class. She was nicknamed and fondly referred to as Mrs. “Fig” by her beloved students. Millie worked at Lakewood High School for 27 years before retiring in 1993. After she and Frank retired from teaching, they moved to Oldsmar and started a translating business from English to Spanish and vice versa. One of her goals in H.S. was to become an Interpreter and she did just that. Millie and Frank traveled all over the world, but her favorite pastime was going to the casinos, anywhere they were. She loved the slot machines! She also loved collecting jewelry during her travels, going to the movies; she was a great cook and enjoyed doing her crossword puzzles. In her later years she simply just enjoyed being in the presence of her family. Millie and Frank were happily married for 65 years. Millie is predeceased by her Parents, Nicomedes and Cruz Nieves, her Husband, Frank M. Figueroa, her Step-Mother, Maria Nieves of St. Petersburg, her Brother, Philip Nieves of Palm Springs, CA, her Sister, Belen Miranda and her Brother-in-Law, Celedonio of Staten Island, NY, her Brother, Nicomedes Nieves Jr. of Dunedin, FL., her Niece, Alicia Marie Nieves of Clearwater, FL, and her Step-Niece, Jessica Pettus of Slidell, LA. She is survived by her Brother, Mark Nieves and Sister-in-Law, Kathleen of St. Petersburg, her Brother, Jesse Nieves and Sister-in-Law, Mary Collette of Orlando, FL, her Niece, Nicolle Erin Rider, and Husband, Alex of Seffner, FL, her Nephew, Michael Miranda of Oldsmar, her Niece, Mildred Miranda of Staten Island, NY, her Niece, Margaret Ann Miranda-Hanrahan, and Husband, Kenneth Patrick of Staten Island, NY, her Grand-Niece, Celina G. Quagliariello of Oldsmar, FL, her Nephew, Gerard Dennis Nieves of Jacksonville, FL, her Grand-Nephew, Ricardo Dennis Nieves, his wife Sarah Jane, Great Grand-Niece, Christian La Elle, Great Grand-Nephew, Asher Justus of Miramar, FL, and her Goddaughter, Star Aparicio-Schmidt of Tampa. Millie was cremated and she and Frank’s ashes will be placed in a shared niche together forever. A memorial service will take place at Memorial Park Funeral Home – 5750 49th St. St. Petersburg, from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Friday, May 16, 2025. In addition, a presentation with military honors will take place for Millie’s late Husband, Frank M. Figueroa, who served in the United States Army Air Forces at 4:00 PM. The repass will commence immediately following the conclusion of the military honors presentation.
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