Mercedes Diaz

March 31, 1936 - December 15, 2021

Mercedes Carmen Diaz entered into rest on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, after battling a short illness. She was born on March 31, 1936, in Havana, Cuba to Guillermo Diaz and Mercedes Canovaca Diaz. She was educated at American Dominican Academy in Havana and graduated in June 1954. She also attended University St. Thomas Aquinas in Havana. She came to the U.S. after the Cuban Revolution and lived in New York until 1970. In New York, she worked at Getz Brothers and Empire Steel. She opened her own business selling steel and then went to work at Federal Steel as Vice President of purchasing. She lived in Puerto Rico from 1970 to 1972 and then decided she wanted to be back in the U.S. mainland and moved to Augusta, GA. She co-owned and operated Vogue Cleaners of Augusta from 1972 to 2017 at which time she retired. She felt very lucky to have been able to travel all over the world to Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. After retiring, she had time to combine her passion for photography and gardening. She is survived by the love of her life and constant companion for the last 51 years, Eleanor Hofsess. Also surviving are her cousins, Patti Myers, Brenda Abasolo and Arwen Myers. She is also leaving behind the entire Hofsess family of Missouri, whom she loved very much, as well as her best buddy, her dog Dakota. She will be entombed in the mausoleum at Hillcrest Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to an animal rescue of your choice. Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com