Rosa Maria Morell

Rosa Maria Teresa de la Concepcion de Varona de Morell Romero, age 97, passed away November 29, 2011, in Tallahassee, Florida.

Rosy, as she was known to her friends, was born on Havana Street, in the city of Havana in the province of Havana, Cuba, on February 14, 1914. Her parents were Gustavo and Rosa Maria de Varona. In 1934, she married Jose Morell Romero, a Cuban patriot who helped forge the new nation. She and Jose both worked in the Cuban underground to help overthrow the dictator Gerardo Machado. She was married to Jose for 68 years until his death in 2002. In addition to raising three children, she supported her husband's labors as a freedom fighter, statesman, cabinet minister, Cuban Supreme Court Justice and college professor. She came to the United States with her family in 1960 and began a new life in a new land. She eventually became an American citizen and dearly cherished her adopted country. She was loved for her cheerfulness and affectionate nature and was active for many years in the Chadron (Nebraska) Woman's Club, where she served as president for two terms. She was also active in the Chadron State College Faculty Women's Club and helped sponsor the Spanish Club. After her husband's retirement from Chadron State College, she came to Florida and was employed by Burdines of Florida in various sales positions. She and Jose moved to Tallahassee in 1979 and she was a parishioner at the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More, where she graced a front pew and brought smiles to many faces. She loved to paint and developed an oeuvre of several hundred paintings, dispersed around the United States. Her paintings were exhibited in a number of competitions where she won awards. Most importantly, she dearly loved her family and taught them faith, hope and love.

She is survived by her daughters, Rosita Menocal of Miami and Silvia Morell (Michael) Alderman of Tallahassee; grandchildren, Rosy (Ismael) Hernandez, Rafael (Lisa) Menocal, Carlos Menocal, Jose (Sigrid) Menocal, Annie Menocal, Enrique Menocal, Luis Menocal, Matthew Alderman, Jose Enrique Morell and Nicholas Morell; great-grandchildren, Joseph (Kathryn) Hernandez, Sgt. Michael (Yeni) Hernandez, Sarah Hernandez, Megan Menocal, Matthew Menocal, Cristy Menocal, Lt. Rafael Menocal, Austen Menocal; and great-great grandson, Mikey Hernandez.

She was predeceased by her son Jose "Kiki" Morell.

A visitation will be held at Culley's MeadowWood Timberlane Road Chapel on Friday, December 2, 2011 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm; with a Rosary Service at 7:30 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 10:30 AM at Co-Cathedral of St Thomas More, 900 W Tennessee St (corner of Tennessee and Woodward). Interment will follow at Culley's MeadowWood Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Jose and Rosy Morell Scholarship, Chadron State Foundation, 1000 Main Street, Chadron, NE 69337.

Arrangements are under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.