Community voices: Success from Scratch
In 1998, Lidia’s husband “won the visa lottery,” allowing them to move to the US. They left family and friends and their home in Romania with their baby girls, ages 7 and 19 months, a couple hundred dollars, and almost no English.
Their arrival was made easier with the support of friends. Lidia’s husband studied English at PCC; Lidia studied children’s TV.
“Kids’ shows like ‘Sesame Street’ taught me how to pronounce and write words,” she says. “At first speaking Romanian and mentally translating, English eventually started coming naturally. I still have to correct my husband sometimes,” she laughs.
The first few years they worked as janitors. Then a friend recommended they consider adult care. After working three years for others to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills, in 2005 they were able to buy a home to operate themselves — which they’ve done ever since.
As for her extraordinary cakes, “I always liked to bake,” Lidia says. “I started making flowers when Covid started after seeing a post by a lady who made pillow cakes with traditional Romanian decorations. They looked so real — I was eager to learn more.”
She taught herself through online articles and YouTube tutorials, learning that different pastes like gum and bean provided strength and flexibility. “I practiced every day during quarantine — I made a lot of cakes and gained a lot of weight,” she laughs. “I ordered tools, utensils, colors — worth thousands of dollars.”
Lidia began making cakes for friends, family, and residents of her and her husband’s adult care home. “It helped me through a lot of stress,” she says, “it’s very relaxing and gives me joy.”
Currently she is sourcing the perfect flexible paste to make a copy of her daughter’s wedding bouquet. “It will be a lot of work. You have to make the petals, leaves, and stems, and work with color to make them realistic. I try to perfect myself; I really like it.”
Does she dream of someday becoming a professional baker?
“Yes — I think one day, if I’m not doing caregiving anymore, I wish to outfit a kitchen.”
For now, she’ll share her beautiful creations with friends, family, and her residents.
“And maybe start a cookbook,” she says. “My daughters say, ‘Mommy! You should write a book of all the things you cook for us — we love it!’”
Knowing Lidia, it’s sure to be a success.
About MaryEllen
Born April 14, 1927, in Sellwood, MaryEllen grew up in NE Portland. Her cakes were the pièce de resistance at weddings over 40 years. Married x years, she has (kids). She baked her final wedding cake in 2007 for her granddaughter’s wedding.