Obituary of Maria Elena Bushman

BUSHMAN, Maria Elena Blanco, 68, of Herndon, Virginia passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, April 12, 2018 in Miami, Florida.  She was born on March 3, 1950 in Havana, Cuba, the daughter of Florentino Blanco Rosell and Elena de la Torre Alcoz.  As a child she lived in Fort Lauderdale, FL. and Slidell, LA. where she attended Our Lady of Lourdes.  She graduated from Colegio St. Clare High School in Costa Rica and then from the University of Illinois with a major in Spanish Education and a minor in Psychology.  Maria Elena married the love of her life, Joseph Bushman in Miami and raised their family there.   She taught Spanish at Gulliver Academy for a short period of time.  The family moved to Virginia in 1989 but Maria Elena continued to travel back and forth to Miami.  She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Herndon.  Maria Elena is predeceased by her brother, Enrique Blanco; and is survived by her loving husband of 46 years, Joseph Bushman; her two children, Christie Goldman (son-in-law Todd) and Linnette Vasquez (son-in-law Joe); five grandchildren, Ellie Goldman, Anderson Goldman, Crawford Goldman, Mary Catalina Vasquez and Vincent Vasquez; by her brothers, Florentino Blanco, Eduardo Blanco, Carlos Blanco, Sergio Blanco, Guillermo Blanco, and her sister Magdalena Blanco Montoto. Maria Elena was a loving wife, beloved mother and a proud grandmother.  She loved communicating, with frequent phone calls, to her loved ones and her large Cuban family.  She will be greatly missed. The family held a  private visitation on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at Ferdinand Funeral Home In Miami, FL. for the relatives and friends. Maria Elena will travel to Virginia where she will be laid to rest.  There will be a visitation at ADAMS-GREEN Funeral Home in Herndon, Virginia on Sunday, April 22 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.   A mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 23 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church 750 Peachtree St. Herndon, VA.  Interment in Chestnut Grove Cemetery.