Manuel L. Rimblas

Manuel (Manolo) Lazaro Rimblas was born on December 17th 1931 in Santiago, Cuba. When he was only 18 he met the love of his life, Ziomara (Sandy) or as he liked to call her his “Chavea”.

He worked hard to win Sandy’s love. That’s the version he liked to tell his grandkids, with a few embellishments and variations each time he told it. A few years after they were married, they had their first child, Manuel (Manny). When Manny was only 6 months old, they moved to the United States. They struggled to make a good life for themselves and their young son. A few years later when Manny was 2, they had their second child, Elizabeth (Eli). When Eli was still very young, Manolo’s mother convinced him to go back to Cuba with the promise of a better life, but once they arrived Cuba was in turmoil, the Rebels were uprising and Cuba wasn’t the same place they grew up in. While still in Cuba, they had their last child, Ana Ester. When Ana was 6 months old the entire family left Cuba to return to The United States.

As the years passed, their family grew and so did his love of sports. The children got married and had their own children. When Florida announced they’d have their own baseball team, The Marlins, Manolo was ecstatic. Even after moving to North Carolina he kept a close eye on his Marlins. He was always cheering them on or yelling at them. Manolo was the most caring grandfather, not only to his blood but to the many kids he adopted as his own. He enjoyed telling his grandchildren stories of his past, his struggles to make the life he thought his family deserved.

He wanted his legacy to be one of hard work, determination, love, and laughter. Manolo loved his wife, “ho-nee”, more than anything, and that love shined through to anyone who came in contact with him. The love Manolo and Sandy share will live on forever, through the bonds he created with his family and friends. Survived by his wife, Sandy, 3 children, Manny, Elizabeth & husband Nestor, & Ana, 8 grandchildren, Erik & wife Lilliam, Veronica & husband John, Denise & husband Albert, Sailyn, Vikki & husband Joey, Willie, Joneli & Matt, 11 great-grandchildren, Sergio, Aidan, Tyler, Anthony, Genesis, Natalie, Ryan, Erin, Bella, Luke, & Sophia and his many, many adoptive children. We celebrate the life of this exceptional man and mourn the loss of knowing others will not hear his laughter and won’t see his generosity.

A Celebration of Life Service in his honor will be held on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 4:00 PM at Apex Funeral Home Chapel 550 W. Williams Street Apex, NC.

Condolences may be sent to www.apexfuneral.net