Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Emilina Pola Smits (also known as Emelina Pola Smits) |
| Birth | September 14, 1930, Peñuelas, Puerto Rico |
| Death | April 23, 2015, Brooklyn, New York |
| Occupation | Nurse’s aide, home health worker, lifelong volunteer |
| Spouse | Cornelis Leendert Smits (divorced around 1973) |
| Children | Jimmy L. Smits; Yvonne Kyles; Diana Kyles |
| Grandchildren | Taina, Kino, Lina, Enrique, Tiffany, Angelica; great-grandchild Tyler |
| Known For | Deep faith, community service, and raising a family grounded in resilience and care |
Early Life and Migration
Emilina Pola was born on September 14, 1930, in the coastal town of Peñuelas, Puerto Rico, into a large family. She was one of fourteen children born to Joaquin Pola and Tomasa Bermudez. Childhood was rooted in modest surroundings; her family depended on the rhythms of rural life, and early loss shaped her path—her mother passed away while Emilina was still young.
Her family moved to Ponce, Puerto Rico, where she attended Armstrong Intermediate School. She graduated from Ponce High School in 1950. X-ray technology was one of many occupational disciplines she studied there, indicating her future devotion to health care and service.
In 1951, at age 21, Emilina immigrated to New York City, joining several siblings who had already established lives in the city. She settled in Brooklyn, launching a new chapter that blended her strong cultural identity with ambition and faith.
Building a Family
Shortly after arriving in New York, Emilina met Cornelis Leendert Smits, a merchant marine from Suriname of Dutch descent. Their courtship, full of cross-cultural exchange and dance, lasted until 1954, when they were married.
The couple had three children:
- Jimmy L. Smits, born July 9, 1955, in Brooklyn — destined for a life on screen;
- Yvonne, who would grow into a registered nurse;
- Diana, the youngest child, later a mother in her own right.
Although the marriage eventually ended in divorce around 1973, Emilina’s devotion to her children did not waver. She remained present, working to provide stability and encouragement even as the family shifted under challenging circumstances.
Work, Faith, and Service
Emilina’s professional life was built on hands-on care. She began as a nurse’s aide in Brooklyn hospitals—Maimonides and Linden General—drawing on her earlier medical training. Later, when Linden closed, she moved into home health care, working with United Home Care to support patients directly in their homes.
Her finest work meant more than money. Much of her life was spent volunteering at church. A dedicated Catholic, she worked in Midwood, Brooklyn’s Our Lady of Refuge Roman Catholic Church’s Homeless Ministry and Food Pantry. She spent hours giving food, comforting the spirit, and being generous.
Emilina was also deeply involved in faith-based societies—the Sacred Heart of Jesus Society and the National Cursillo Movement—both of which emphasize spiritual growth, solidarity, and community upliftment. Her dedication extended to health outreach: she volunteered for the Visiting Nurse Service of New York for many years, making “comfort calls” to patients who were isolated or in need of companionship. Her service earned her some of the highest honors the organization offered.
In every aspect of her life, her faith fueled her action, and her actions embodied her faith.
Family Legacy and Relationships
Emilina’s influence echoed most powerfully through her children and grandchildren.
- Jimmy L. Smits: Her eldest, Jimmy, found fame as an actor. As he rose in Hollywood, he openly recognized his mother’s sacrifices, crediting her immigrant resilience and moral grounding for much of his success.
- He has two children—Taina, born in 1973, and Kino, born in 1983—and a partner, Wanda De Jesús, with whom he shared a long relationship.
- Yvonne Kyles: Following in her mother’s footsteps in the caring professions, Yvonne became a registered nurse. She, along with her husband Abraham, continued a role of service and family connection. Their children include Lina and Enrique.
- Diana Kyles: Emilina’s third child, Diana, married Clark and became a mother to Tiffany and Angelica, cementing the familial bonds across generations.
Emilina’s extended family also included sisters—Alicia, Digna, and Celia—and multiple nieces and nephews spread between Puerto Rico and New York, illustrating the strength of familial networks she maintained until her passing.
Later Years and Final Chapter
In her later years, Emilina’s physical mobility declined, but her spiritual life grew ever stronger. For over eight years before her death, she was cared for by a woman she regarded as part of her extended family—Maria Luisa—who supported her daily in the routines of prayer, devotion, and reflection.
She spent much of her time praying, reading the Bible, reciting the rosary, and watching televised Mass. Even as she aged, her commitment to faith remained resolute.
On April 23, 2015, Emilina passed away in Brooklyn at age 84. She was surrounded, at least in memory, by the community she nurtured — her children, grandchildren, and the members of her church — leaving a heritage of love, service, and quiet strength.
A Life Beyond Public Spotlight
She never sought celebrity or lived in its spotlight. Her story lacks flashes and headlines. Her legacy is in houses visited, prayers made, and unnoticed care. Her humble, selfless, and service-filled existence impacted her family’s future.
Though she left no viral videos, her spirit lives on in her children’s work — Jimmy’s advocacy, Yvonne’s nursing, Diana’s family life — and in the faith-driven community service she exemplified. In every act she performed, she left a quiet but persistent echo: the kind of life that matters because it builds others, not because it demands attention.
