Nubia Hahn went to heaven on August 1, 2025. Her daughter and her son-in-law were by her side when she took her last breath.
Nubia was born in Ibagué, Colombia on July 16, 1939. She moved to St. Louis, Missouri in November of 1964; the only person in her family to make the journey. She had no family or friends in the United States when she arrived. Her fiancé Rafael Medina, also from Colombia, arrived one year later and they got married shortly after his arrival; together they established a new life for themselves.
Nubia worked as an EKG technician at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis and then as a keypunch operator in the Sales Department of Wohl Shoe Company in Clayton. She went back to school graduating from St. Mary’s School of Nursing, and she went on to have a long and rewarding nursing career. She worked at several facilities including St. Mary’s Hospital, the Visiting Nurses Association, and Lutheran Convalescent Home.
Nubia loved spending time with her family and preparing delicious meals for them. She adored being an abuelita to her precious grandchildren. She enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and many other parts of the world. After retiring from nursing she loved escaping the cold St. Louis winters and being a snowbird in Lido Key, a barrier island off the coast of Sarasota, Florida. A lover of the arts, nature, and gardening, she was a season ticket holder and supporter of the Muny Theater and she enjoyed going to the Missouri Botanical Garden. She loved listening to classical music and ballads from her youth. Even after dementia had taken away so many of her memories, she still remembered the lyrics to many of her favorite songs from her younger years.
Nubia was very proud of her Colombian heritage, and instilled that pride in the heart of her only daughter. She made sure that her daughter learned how to speak Spanish fluently despite being the only Latino family and the only Spanish speakers wherever they lived. She traveled to Colombia with her daughter several times to visit family and to enjoy the beauty and culture of many different parts of the country.
Nubia was preceded in death by her mother Libia Galindo, her father Heriberto Galindo, her first husband Rafael Medina, her second husband Joseph Hahn, and her brothers Julio Galindo, Hugo Galindo, and Fernando Galindo.
Nubia is survived by her daughter Maria Elena Akins, her son-in-law Jim Akins, her grandchildren Sara Elena Akins and Joshua Michael Akins, and her siblings Oswaldo Galindo, Olga Galindo, and Gloria Galindo as well as many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service led by Father Gerson Parra will be held at Sunset Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Affton, Missouri on Thursday August 7 at 1:00 pm CST.
If desired, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the International Institute of St. Louis, Shriners Children’s St. Louis, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Alzheimer’s Association, or the charity of your choice.
Such a lovely lady and lovely family. So sorry for your loss. Your mom always will be with you till you.
Querida hermana,
Has partido a reunirte con nuestro Dios y sus ángeles,
Tu herencia espiritual para todos tus seres cercanos también durará muchos años y estamos seguros de que cuando lleguemos al paso de la muerte tú estarás en el conjunto de hermanos y parientes con quienes compartiste en vida.
Es la esperanza que tenemos los cristianos de volvernos a encontrar a pesar de la separación temporal causada por la muerte.
Tus hermanos que te quieren Oswaldo, Fernando, Olga y Gloria
Recordada Maria Elena y familia,
Estamos acompañándolos en este momento tan duro de la separación física más no espiritual.
Un abrazo desde Colombia con todo el cariño que nos fortalece,
Margarita
Querida María Elena,
Desde Colombia pedimos a Dios por ti en este momento difícil pero inevitable de la partida de mi tía Nubia.
Sabemos que ella descansa hoy en los brazos de Dios.
Los acompañamos a ti, a Jim, a Sarah y a Joshua y los llevamos en nuestros corazones,
Un abrazo de parte de tus primos María Cecilia, María Isabel, Jaime Eduardo y María Margarita.