Gabriella Cubas-Ismaeil Obituary (1981

Gabriella Cubas-Ismaeil 1981-2023 “It's impossible,” said pride. “It’s risky,” said experience. “It’s pointless,” said reason. “Give it a try,” said the heart. Gabriella Cubas-Ismaeil, beloved daughter, wife, granddaughter, niece, aunt, cousin, and friend, passed away peacefully the morning of Friday July 7, 2023. Gabriella was the only child of Jose and Sonia Cubas. She was born February 12, 1981 in Santa Ana, El Salvador. She and her family moved to Salt Lake City Utah when she was four months old. “Daughters are like flowers, they fill the world with beauty”. Gabby brought with her true happiness. She was adored by her parents, she was the sunshine of their life, she was their miracle. Gabriella and her family loved their vacations in San Diego, Disneyland and various other places in California. She and her family attended many concerts and RSL soccer games, all of which are traditions she continued with her beloved husband Salam. As a child Gabby was active and inquisitive, always asking “but why” wanting to understand how things worked. Her inquisitive and loving nature occasionally got her in trouble. She once fed her fish the entire bottle of food… she couldn’t stand the thought of them going hungry. She never shied from the spotlight. As a girl Gabby performed daily concerts asking for complete attention and would start over again and again till it was given. She dubbed her and her parents the “TRI-ITO” with numerous songs dedicated to one another such as my girl, from this moment on, love of my life, my little girl, you are my sunshine, para que no me olvides, saving all my love for you, father’s and daughter’s, in my daughter’s eyes and many more. From an early age she embraced the word of our Lord Jesus Christ with Catholic traditions. She was baptized, celebrated her first communion, and Quinceañera (15th birthday) at the cathedral of the Madeleine where she was an Altar Server and member of the Madeleine Choir School for many years. Gabriella and her family volunteered making lunches for the Cathedral of the Madeleine’s Good Samaritan Program. She assisted the Honorary Consul of El Salvador in information seminars, the Fraternity of El Salvador in community events to raise money to send school supplies to the needy in El Salvador, the Lead Teacher Assistant in the Spanish Immersion summer camps sponsored by the University of Utah’s Division of Continuing Education and Salt Lake School district’s Department of Community Education. As her mom’s Spanish teaching assistant she taught Spanish to students from preschool to sixth grade. She also served as a mentor for the Salt Lake City Police Department’s DARE program. Gabriella loved learning and attended Ensign School (K-6), Bryant Junior High School (7-8), and West High School. She continued her education in the following ways: ● Ongoing M.ED. Education, Culture & Society at the University of Utah. ● She graduated in August 2002 from the University of Utah with B.A. Double Major in Sociology and Political Science as well as Certificates in Criminology/Corrections & Practical politics. Gabby’s work ethic lead to her graduating in three years Gabriella’s professional pursuits included: ● 11/2012-Present (Utah Community Action - Head Start). Here she held various positions such as Assistant Head Start Director, Family Partnership/ERSEA Manager, Program Coordinator, Program Specialist, Single session Lead Teacher, and Family Advocate. ● 9/2011-8/2012 (State of Utah - 3rd District Juvenile Court) Probation Officer ● 5/2007-9/2011 (State of Utah - Department of Workforce Services) Employment Counselor, SSI ● 8/2003-5/2007 (State of Utah - 3rd District Juvenile Court) Probation Officer ● 10/2002-8/2003 (State of Utah - 3rd District Juvenile Court) Deputy Court Clerk ● Summers of 1995-1997 (Avenues Montessori Schools) Teacher Assistant Internships ● May 2002- August 2002 (Clerkship 2nd District Court Judge Glen Dawson) ● August 2000-November 2000 (Fundraising Intern for Congressman Jim Matheson’s Congressional Campaign) Gabriella fell in love with her husband Salam Ismaeil and the two were married on April 2, 2015. The two loved attending concerts as well as their vacations in Las Vegas, California, and Florida. Gabriella and Salam loved their dogs and had a wonderful time going to the mountains as well as dancing. Gabby was the original fashionista taking pride in her appearance. She also loved to cook which she did wonderfully. She enjoyed creating a variety of dishes from different cultures. Gabriella was intelligent, creative, independent, honest, sympathetic, responsible, sociable, persistent, driven, determined, kind, loyal, a person of character, confident, reliable, hopeful, loved to learn new things, full of knowledge, a little bit stubborn (lol), compassionate, empathetic, she was very committed to underprivileged children, she was unstoppable with good causes, great listener, optimistic, a fighter, brave and courageous until the end. Gabriella, Gabby, P2, Pimpo-pimpo, patita, mi niña, you will be forever in our hearts. “Loved you del Porte del cielo” like you used to tell us. Gabriella is survived by her parents Jose and Sonia, by her husband Salam, Grandma Ruth, uncle, cousins, nieces and nephews, in-laws, and numerous extended family. Gabriella is preceded in death by grandpa Toto, her favorite Aunt Morena, her beloved dog Sparky Bebe (pappas), grandparents, uncles, extended Cubas family, Lemus family, and Ismaeil family. A celebration of life will be held on August 5th, 2023 at 11am, at Neil O’Donnell funeral home at 372 East 100 South Salt Lake City. The family wishes to express thanks to Gabriella’s caregivers (especially the nurses, Physicians Assistants, Medical assistants, CNA, aides, cleaning staff, Huntsman at Home, Dr. Andrew Soisson, Dr. Theresa Werner, and Dr. Laura Lambert who continually visited her during her hospitalizations. In lieu of flowers , donations may be made to the following: St. Joseph Indian School, P.O Box 326 Chamberlain, SD 57326. 1-80l-341-2235 www.stjo.org St. Jude Hospital 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 1-800-822-6344 Ronald McDonald House 935 East South Temple St Salt Lake City, Utah 84102 801-363-4663