Yolanda Rodriguez

March 12, 1948 – March 3, 2023

On March 3, 2023, Yolanda “Yoly” Rodriguez, age 74, died suddenly and unexpectedly in Tampa, Florida, leaving all who loved her in disbelief. Yoly was born in La Habana, Cuba on March 12, 1948 to Alberto Marcel Rodríguez y Sánchez and Yolanda Margarita López y Emanuelli, but she grew up in Camagüey, Cuba which she always considered her true home. At the age of 17, Yoly was forced to leave her beloved Cuba for political reasons. She moved to Spain for a brief period and then immigrated to Miami, FL where she lived until October 1980 when she moved to Tampa, FL where she lived until her untimely death. From the moment she left Cuba, Yoly worked tirelessly to provide for her family in Cuba, as well as her two children, Eduardo Alberto Ramos and Alejandra de Maria Ramos-Hernandez, whom she adored unconditionally until she took her last breath. She worked various jobs throughout her life, but she was most proud of Viajes a Miami, the shuttle bus transportation company she founded and worked for until her retirement. She was loved by all of her clients. After her retirement, she dedicated her life to her grandchildren whom she cared for and loved very much.

Yoly loved music, dancing and spending time with her family and friends, and especially loved her grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents. Her oldest brother, Father Alberto Rodríguez López, died exactly one week after Yoly, compounding the sorrow suffered by the family. Yoly is survived by her younger brother Eduardo Rodriguez of Camagüey, Cuba, her two children, Eduardo Alberto Ramos and Alejandra de Maria Ramos-Hernandez, and her grandchildren, Julian, Olivia, Pablo and Joaquin who filled her heart with joy. Yoly will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by her family and friends with whom she was always very close and shared a life of joy, laughter and love. Above all, Yoly will be missed by Ed and Alejandra who will always remember her as an exceptional mother who devoted her entire life to her children.

Friends and family are invited to celebrate Yoly’s life at a memorial mass on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 12:30 p.m., at St. Lawrence Catholic Church located at 5225 N. Himes Avenue, Tampa, FL. Because Yoly had so many friends and family in Miami, the family will hold a second memorial mass at St. Dominic Catholic Church, located at 5909 N.W. 7th Street, Miami, FL (time and date to be determined). Mami (as Ed and Alex called her) will always be in our hearts as we continue to make her proud by honoring her legacy.