At four years old, Reina left Santiago de Cuba with her grandparents Catalina and Domingo and began a new life in the United States. She grew up, graduated from City College in New York, then moved to Miami with her grandparents and started working at Mercy Hospital as an electrocardiogram technician—a role she would hold with quiet dedication for nearly four decades.
In 1988, a blind date introduced her to Leandro Canovas. They married, built a life together, and raised two sons, Jorge and Alexis. When grandchildren came—Alessandro, who she called “Nene,” and Gianluca, her “Bebe”—Reina found a new kind of joy. She never missed one of Nene’s hockey tournaments, and every Sunday morning she took both boys to church.
After a courageous battle with cancer, Reina passed on July 13, 2026, at the age of 65. She is survived by her husband Leandro, her sons Jorge and Alexis, her grandchildren Alessandro and Gianluca, her father Freddy Sr., and her siblings Katy, Freddy, Whilmer, and Wayne.
Leandro recently retired, and the family is navigating medical and memorial expenses. Every contribution goes directly toward honoring the woman who spent her life showing up for everyone else.