Mr. Manuel Menendez's Obituary
Menendez, Manuel, 88 of Tampa passed away peacefully at home on April 23, 2008 with his loving wife by his side surrounded by family and friends on April 23, 2008. He was preceded in death by parents Cesareo and Herminia Menendez originally from Asturias, Spain; Beloved Uncle and Aunt Emilio and Annette McDonald Suarez of Cuthbert, Ga; Eleven brothers and sisters in Colombia, SA and Uncle and Aunt Emilio and Celestina Alvarez of Tampa. Manuel is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Pauline Viola Menendez; Son Adrian(Camille) Menendez; Son Davian(Tina) Menendez. Grandchildren Theresa(Brian) Yoder, Allison Menendez, Davian Menendez Jr., Tino Menendez, Paul Menendez, Christopher Smith and Anthony Spinella. Great-Grandchildren Alex Yoder and Will Yoder. Sisters Amparo Munoz and Esperanza Lara of Colombia, SA. Cousins Tini Alvarez of Madrid, Spain and Nina Alvarez of Chevy Chase, MD. Many loving nephews and nieces both in Tampa and Colombia, SA. Manuel arrived in the United States in 1930 at the age of ten years old. His parents sent him to live with his beloved Uncle Emilio and Aunt Annette in Cuthbert, Ga. He came to love and consider them as his second parents. His mother's wish was for him to be educated in the United States. Manuel arrived in Cuthbert known as THE LITTLE SPANISH BOY WHO DID NOT SPEAK ENGLISH. He loved the woods of Georgia and loved to hunt as a young man. He attended school in Cuthbert and later graduated from Gordon Military Academy in Barnesville, Ga. Upon graduating from Military School Manuel decided that the United States was his new home and returned to Tampa to live with his Uncle Emilio and Aunt Tina. There he joined the family business, J.A. Suarez Tobacco Leaf Company. Manuel enlisted in the United States Army, was stationed at Camp Blanding, Florida and achieved the rank of Staff Sargeant. Upon his Honorable Discharge he returned to Tampa to resume his career in the family's tobacco company. He was later joined in the business by family members Benny Muniz and Tony Muniz. They went on to become sucessful members of the tobacco and cigar industry in Ybor City. Manuel and Tony later formed another company known as M & M Tobacco Company. After the start of the Cuban Embargo they continued to work closely with the cigars companies in Ybor City. Until his death Manuel represented the Jose Mendez Co of the Dominican Republic. Pallbearers: Frank Bitetto, John Bitetto, Davian Menendez Jr, Tino Menendez, Paul Menendez, Tony Muniz, Mickey Neher, and Vincent Nuccio Jr.. Honorary Pallbearers: Lionel Deacon, Pepe Perez, Dr. Brian Yoder , Christopher Smith, Anthony Spinella, Tony Perez, Stephen Nuccio, Adam Nuccio and Anthony Perez. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to LifePath Hospice, 3010 West Azeele St, Tampa, Fl, 33609. 813.877.2200. The family will receive friends on Monday from 10 to 11 am at the funeral home located at 4730 N Armenia Ave where funeral services will be held at 11 am. interment to follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery.
Boza & Roel Funeral Home
4730 North Armenia Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33603
(813) 877-7676
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