Ernestina T. Cuellar, a resident of Charlestown, MA, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2024 at Care One at Brookline, MA.
The youngest daughter of the late Leonardo and Estafana (Trevino) Cuellar, she was born November 8, 1931 in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas.
“Sister Ernestine” began her journey of faith at nine years old, as she confessed Jesus as Savior, and then loved Jesus her entire life. As a young woman, Ernestine excelled in Christian studies, winning a year-long scholarship to study further. She was a 1954 graduate of Latin American Bible College, and class valedictorian. She was a missionary in Haiti and joined in several mission trips with Christian groups, sometimes at significant danger to herself. Ernestine was a worshiper of God, a woman of prayer and an authoritative voice on doing life according to Biblical principles.
Ernestine also worked faithfully at numerous jobs over the years, taking care of individuals and families as well as in retail positions, and even as a matron at Boston Symphony Hall in her later years, walking through snow drifts to be there. Ernestine hoped to go on more mission trips, but she was always on mission wherever she was as she joyfully greeted people with “Praise the Lord!” And “Do you know the Lord?”
Ernestine will be remembered among her church community for her sixteen consecutive years of working at Vacation Bible School, “Kid’s Week,” leading in prayer before snack-time. It was with that same faith and devotion to God that led her to serve NYC, at her own expense, six times, following 9/11. She made over 20 trips to the World Trade Center where she served meals to workers at Ground Zero. She went by Greyhound and stayed 3 days each trip, sleeping each night at the Greyhound terminal. She worked with Starlight Ministry at Emmanuel Gospel Center to care for Boston’s un-housed population. She did not shun the most menial tasks, as she supported the Park Street Church ministry to internationals by washing dishes after their dinners. We will remember her voice standing out in the congregation at Park Street Church, when she raised a Hallelujah during worship.
And, if you knew Ernestine well, you knew that she was a lemon pie connoisseur, discovering Lyndell’s bakery to have the best lemon pie.
On Friday, June 7, 2024 a committal service will take place at 11 a.m. at New Calvary Cemetery, 800 Harvard Street, Mattapan, MA.
A Memorial Service is planned for Sunday, June 23, 2024, 1 pm, at Park Street Church, Boston.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Park Street Church Missions and Radio Ministry, 1 Park Street, Boston, MA 02108.