Amada Dopico

Amada Dopico passed away on October 20, 2023 in Tampa, Florida surrounded by her loving family. Born in Güines, Cuba on June 26, 1944, Amada was the fifth of six children born to Jacobo Yzquierdo and Maria Gonzalez. She was 79 years old.

A resident of Tampa, Florida since 1973 by way of Madrid, Spain, Amada enjoyed spending her summers on the gulf beaches and her weekends with family and friends. She loved to travel, visiting destinations such as Mexico, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, California, Chicago, New Orleans, Virginia, and she returned as often as she could to her native Cuba to spend time with family who were unable to travel to the U.S.

If you grew up in West Tampa in the ‘70s and ‘80s, you may have met Amada on the bleachers at the West Tampa Little League Park where her oldest daughter played softball, or at Santos Frozen Foods or Fiesta Chorizos where she was famous for her ‘Devil Crab’ Croquetas and Papas Rellenas, or volunteering at St. Joseph’s Catholic School where her youngest two children attended school.

In the ‘90s and 2000s, you might have run into Amada on the bleachers at Wellswood Baseball Park watching her oldest grandson play, at La Teresita Plus salsa dancing with friends, or playing the slots at Seminole Hard Rock Casino.

Amada had a larger than life presence and was known for her sense of humor. She was a jokester and a prankster, and thrived on being the center of attention. She once won a Thanksgiving turkey on a radio show by gobbling on live air. Amada also loved dressing up for Halloween, and could be unrecognizable in costume.

During the summers, when other mothers barely dipped their toes in the water, Amada was diving head first into the deep end of the pool. Her favorite time to swim in the ocean was at sunset, and she continued to brave the ocean well into her 70s.

Amada had two open-heart surgeries, the first in 2011 from which she recovered quickly and the second the summer of 2022. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure shortly after her second surgery and, accompanied by her daughters, spent the next year traveling to countless medical appointments and extended hospital stays.

However, even with her declining health, Amada's passing was unexpected and devastating for her family. They will love and miss her every day of their lives.

Amada was preceded in death by her parents Maria and Jacobo, her sisters Alicia and Aleida Yzquierdo, nephew Norlan Iquierdo, niece Aleida Arcia, brothers-in-law Luis, Alberto, and Jesus, and sisters-in-law Inarvis, Elena, Nancy, Caridad, and Luisa.

Amada is survived by her daughters Yunia Febles (Leo) and Yvette Manes (Jesus), son Ronald Dopico, grandsons Eddie Ether and Gabriel Manes, granddaughters Daniela Febles and Julianna Manes, great-grandsons Xavier, Gabriel, and Jacob Ether, brothers Placido, Aramis, and Arnardo, many beloved nieces and nephews, loving friends that were more like family, as well as her first husband Augusto Dopico and second husband Carlos Da Costa who both loved and helped care for her in her final months.

Amada Dopico will always be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend to us all. Her loss is deeply felt.