Amalia Hernandez Leaves a Legacy

She lived a modest life and supported herself well into retirement, no easy accomplishment for a single woman who immigrated to the United States in 1938. For Amalia Hernandez, the path to independent living was earning a quality education. Her bequest to the Flint Women and Girls Fund ensures that Amalia's concern for women becomes her for good, forever legacy.

Born in Cuba in 1920, Amalia's love for this country was realized when she became a naturalized American Citizen. Gracious and well-mannered, Amalia's concern for others led her to become a registered nurse. She graduated in 1951 from the Washington Sanitarium and Hospital School of Nursing in Takoma Park, Maryland. Following her college roommate to Flint, the two young nurses found jobs at McLaren Hospital. She worked in general nursing and surgical recovery, retiring from McLaren in 1985.

Purchasing a home on Donaldson Street in Flint's Civic Manor subdivision, Amalia used her business acumen to purchase other properties, owning rental homes in the neighborhood and selling costume jewelry, said Barbara Shareick, Amalia's friend and tax preparer. "She was devoted to her home in Flint and gave generously to several organizations during her lifetime," Shareick said.

"Her education allowed her to live independently, and she was very proud of that," said Linda Pohly, Amalia's estate planning attorney. She wanted other women to have similar opportunities, so Amalia's living trust specified that a fund be established to do just that.

"Amalia wanted to help other women, especially those who are struggling with basic human needs," Pohly said. "She was most interested in giving women a fresh start."