Fernando Suarez

Fernando Suarez Cruz entered this world in Havana, Cuba on June 2, 1979 as a very healthy bundle of joy. Even at birth in every aspect, he was larger than normal life, weighing at 10lbs and 5oz! His proud parents were an accountant, Magali Luz Cruz Garcia (RIP) and a craftsman, Narciso Cresenciano Suarez Ramirez (RIP).  He was Baptized in Havana, Cuba at Iglesia de Santa Barbara where his godmother was named to be Mrs. Silvia Lorie. She now lives in Miami with her daughter, Ileana, and her granddaughter, Laura. We thank God for her and her family, and their immense impact and teachings upon Fernando’s life - as they are still with us today.

During the early 80’s of course Cuba was a very difficult place to live, and Fernando’s parents sought freedom for themselves and their only son. They legally immigrated to the US via Costa Rica on Fernando’s 5th birthday where their layover flight was only supposed to be a few days…and the US lost the entire flight’s paperwork. A few days turned into a few years, and henceforth Fernando and his family spent his formative years from age 5 to age 9 in Costa Rica. Once the US got everything straightened out, the Suarez family voyaged to Miami, Florida - where our current sitting president, President Ronald Reagan, shook the hand of every man, woman, and child to apologize for the trouble, and welcome them to America.

Fernando then grew up in Miami until he was about 13 years old when he was held at gunpoint by a man asking for his wallet. His mother immediately moved him to his uncles in Clewiston, Florida, and then the family relocated. His sister, Lourdes, and her husband and Fernando’s nephew, Leo, finally made it to America in 1998. Fernando was excited for his mother, to know she finally had her family together again. Unfortunately, Magali passed suddenly from a massive heart attack in 1999. Fernando would tell people, “Treasure your time with your loved ones, you just never know.”

Fernando met the love of his life, Corena, when she was just 14 and he was 16 whilst they both attended Clewiston High School, though neither of them realized it at the time. They became the best of friends, and shared many laughs and struggles with each other over the years, even when she moved with her mother to Lakeland, Florida, and even up until he went into the Marine Corp for early enlistment. The two reconnected in 2010 after life sent them separate ways, and got married in 2013. Corena came, as Fernando would put it, “instant family, add water.” Fernando immediately took on the job of full-time husband, full-time Daddy, and never for a second did he ever consider himself “step” anything. Together they raised her two children, had a child of their own, adopted a 4th, and mentored hundreds through their combined efforts of volunteer work with the Robinson High School Marching Band, Monroe Middle School Band, and Florida Chapter of DeMolay.

Not only was he a family man with life lessons to share, but Fernando took both lessons from his mother and father - was a skilled tradesman and great with numbers too - he became the youngest ASE certified mechanic in Lee County, Florida, at the time. He moved to the Tampa Bay Area and mastered running Heavy Equipment while also being a bar bouncer in the evenings. Life moved on, and then he became a plumber and stayed in plumbing after his time in the Marine Corp for a total of 23 years. He relocated to Tampa Bay and worked for several companies, honed his trade, and became one of the best in Hillsborough County. Hard work was NEVER something Fernando was afraid of.

The Suarez family then relocated to Jacksonville, FL in 2020 and fell in love with Jacksonville. (And then back to their hometown of Clewiston, FL, in 2020…and then back to Jacksonville, FL in 2022. Thank you, Covid!) He was working two jobs at the time of his passing, not because financially the family needed it, but because he was “getting paid” for gym time, and secretly planning vacations for his wife of ten years to celebrate their anniversary! He had wanted to travel, had even made a list of destinations with Corena, but in his “strong silent type” way, had never shared that he was making plans. Probably because she would have hounded him for every detail and that eyebrow of his would have raised to indicate that she was annoying him in her loving little way!

Fernando’s song that they played for his cremation was “Simple Man” by Shinedown.
As a man, Fernando was just that, but didn’t realize just how many lives he had touched. He didn’t realize that he had affected thousands of lives, was too humble to know how handsome he was, and never realized the depths his love and good works had done for so many.

Fernando’s sunset was March 14, 2023, gone too soon due to a massive heart attack. He also leaves behind a trail of broken hearts. His deeply devoted wife, Corena Suarez. His 4 children - Cora Morgan, Isaac Elihu, Marcos Alexander, and December Jean. He also leaves his sister, Lourdes Garcia, and his nephew, Leo Garcia. In addition to, he leaves his Madrina, Silvia Lorie, his God-sister, Ileana Fernandez, his God-niece, Laura Torres, & her boyfriend and adopted-by-love nephew to Fernando, Emmanuel “Manny” Leal. He also leaves his sweet Anita or “Granita” Stivers, to which we know has been forever changed by his presence in her life by Fernando’s friendship with her dearly departed Timmy Stivers. In Corena’s family, he leaves a trail of “married to” & extended family, Dad & Mom - Mike & Brenda Townsend, Aunt and Uncle Claudia & Garry Shultz, Diane Peterson, Ray & Marty Williams, and a whole string of brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, aunts & uncles that will miss him dearly.

To know Fernando meant you KNEW what loyalty was. No matter how long he knew you as a friend, he was loyal. He would have settled for no less. There are too many friends that have become family to mention, but a special mention goes to his best friend, who became a dearly adopted brother and his family. We wanted to make sure that they were included here because life without them in it would have never been the same for Fernando. For all the love, devotion, time, care, and shenanigans that you have placed upon his life, Cao & Caren Tran, we love & adore you. We know “Uncle Nino” will be never forgotten by Kai and Jade - he loved on them like they were his own nephew and niece.

Additionally, Fernando would have been extremely proud and thankful for how Isaac, Marcos, & Corena’s Masonic Family have stepped in to help them during this tragedy. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.

A Celebration of Life for Mr. Suarez is planned for 4/15/2023 at 9am, with a gathering on the beach - which was his favorite place to spend weekend mornings with his family.

Sarah L. Carter's Funeral Home Northside is serving the Family.

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