Belkist Elena Padilla's Obituary
PADILLA Belkist Elena, age 46, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on February 14, 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she was receiving treatment for cancer. She is reunited with her twin sons Michael and Andrew Holcombe, who we lost to premature births in 2005. Belkist was born on September 8, 1965 in Bogota, Colombia, moved to the United States with her family when she was five and grew up in Baltimore and Aberdeen, MD. A proud Hokie, she graduated from Virginia Tech and worked in San Diego, CA before moving to Miami, FL in 1992. She married John Andrew Holcombe on October 11, 1997 in Miami and launched her own successful marketing research business, Insights Marketing Group, from the garage of her home in the fall of 2000. She had a unique ability to connect with people in her personal and professional life and was a great friend and mentor to many. She loved life and had the most wonderful smile and laugh. She is survived by her husband John, two beautiful daughters Karina (5) and Isabella (2), parents Jairo and Juanita, brothers Jairo, Jr. and Erwin, and many aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Family, friends, and others whose lives Belkist touched are invited to her memorial service on Monday, February 20th at 3:30 p.m. at St. Patrick Church, 3716 Garden Avenue, Miami Beach.BLASBERG-RUBIN-ZILBERT(305) 865-2353
What’s your fondest memory of Belkist?
What’s a lesson you learned from Belkist?
Share a story where Belkist's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Belkist you’ll never forget.
How did Belkist make you smile?