The family of José Enrique Rodés Núñez, a young Cuban man who died unexpectedly in the United States, is seeking support to cremate his body and transport the ashes back to Cuba, allowing his parents to bid their final farewell. Known affectionately by friends and family as Kike or Kikito, Rodés was 33 years old, originally from Media Luna in Granma province, and the father of a daughter. Sources close to him reported his death resulted from respiratory failure.
At the time of his passing, Rodés was residing in Texas City, Texas, where he had moved after emigrating to the U.S., according to social media posts by acquaintances. A relative set up a GoFundMe account to gather the necessary funds for funeral and repatriation expenses.
“At the request of family and close friends, I decided to create this account to honor the memory of my cousin José Enrique Rodés Núñez, humorously known as Kike. We are eternally grateful for the supportive messages and calls to our family, and this money will be allocated to funeral expenses,” wrote Camilo Núñez.
Román Dalmau Sánchez, a family friend, mourned the loss of Rodés in a heartfelt tribute shared on Facebook. “Today, I am tasked with composing a requiem filled with immense sadness and grief, as we have lost a very young soul to the Creator’s Paradise. I am speaking of José Enrique Rodés Núñez (alias Kike), who emigrated to the U.S. like thousands of young people seeking prosperity and well-being, yet he could not fulfill his goals due to that cursed fate,” he penned.
Dalmau recounted that Rodés’ life in Texas City “was running its course normally; he had his job, which is the most essential thing for an immigrant, and with time, he was adapting to his new life, full of hopes, plans, and all those things that brighten and strengthen the spirit of a young person of 33 years.”
He extended his deepest condolences and emotional support to José, María Herminia, and Elizabeth, as well as to all the Rodés/Núñez family members and friends. “For you, José Enrique Rodés Núñez, I ask the Creator to guide your spirit through those great Avenues of Paradise where you will find Eternal Light and Glory and rest in Peace,” Dalmau expressed in his touching tribute to the young man.
In recent years, the unforeseen deaths of newly emigrated Cubans in the United States and other countries have highlighted similar appeals for assistance from families, who struggle to cover funeral costs to either bury or repatriate their loved ones’ remains to the island.
Understanding the Challenges of Repatriating Remains
Why are Cuban families often seeking help to repatriate remains?
Cuban families often struggle with the high costs associated with funeral and repatriation services, making it challenging to bring their loved ones' remains back to Cuba without external financial support.
What typically causes the deaths of young Cuban emigrants in the U.S.?
While each case is unique, many of these deaths result from unexpected medical conditions or accidents. In José Enrique Rodés Núñez's case, it was a respiratory failure.
How can people contribute to help families like José Enrique Rodés Núñez's?
People can contribute by donating to fundraising platforms such as GoFundMe, which are often set up by relatives or friends to cover funeral and repatriation expenses.