Rosa Menocal's Obituary
Rosa Lucila Morell Garcia-Menocal, known to her loved ones as Rosita Menocal, passed away after a long illness on February 13, 2023, at her home in Hialeah, surrounded by her family. She was born May 30, 1936, in Havana, Cuba, to Jose Morell Romero and Rosa Maria de Varona Morell. Rosita attended St. George's School and Merici Academy in Havana prior to her marriage to Rafael Garcia-Menocal with whom she eventually had seven children.
Rosita, Rafael and their children attempted to leave Cuba for the United States on June 13, 1961, but the bureaucratic excuses of communist functionaries prevented the entire family's departure. That day, the Menocals bravely sent their three older children to Miami to stay with their grandparents. Rosita and Rafael were able to finally come to the United States with their three younger children on December 7, 1961. Rosita and her family settled down to the life of Cuban exiles; Rosita the socialite became Rosita the housewife and factory worker, later working in sales. Rosita's strong faith, learned from her family and the Merici mothers, gave her the strength to survive and raise her family, adding a seventh child in 1962. She was proud of all of their achievements and the service that five of them gave to the Armed Forces of the United States.
Rosita was a champion equestrian both in her native Cuba and in the United States.
Rosita was predeceased by her parents, her brother Jose Julio "Kiki" Morell and his son Jose Enrique Morell. She is survived by her children Rosa (Ismael) Hernandez, Rafael (Lisa) Menocal, Carlos Menocal, Jose (Sigrid) Menocal, Ana Menocal, Enrique (Luisa) Menocal, and Luis Menocal; grandchildren Joseph (Kati) Hernandez, Michael (Yenisbel) Hernandez, Sarah (Stephen) Garcia, Rafael (Jackie) and Austen Menocal, Megan and Matthew Menocal, Cristy Menocal and Juanita Cruz; great-grandchildren Caleb, Joshua, James and Benjamin Hernandez, Michael, Abigail, and Esther Hernandez, Vivienne Menocal, Dominic and Xavier Graham. She is also survived by her sister Silvia (Michael) Alderman and nephews Matthew Alderman and Nicholas Morell, cousins Dario (Connie Morell) and family and Margarita (Nick) Gutierrez and family.
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