Mrs. Nieves Olemberg's Obituary
OLEMBERG, Nieves, 79, passed away on October 30, 2014, at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach, FL of complications from injuries suffered in a car accident 10 days earlier.
Nieves was born on November 1, 1934 in the small town of Placetas, Cuba. Her parents, Berta Feldman Cristal and Salomon Cristal, were Eastern European immigrants.
Nieves studied at Luz y Caballero and Instituto Edison where she was a star student. She later studied accounting at the University of Havana.
On September 4, 1955, Nieves and Isaac Olemberg were married at the Dilido Hotel on Miami Beach, Florida. They had met at the Casino Deportivo in Havana where Isaac recalls immediately noticing Nieves’ beautiful legs. Nieves and Isaac were partners in life and business for 59 years. They have four children, Roberto, Lily, Janine (Hanita) and Lisette.
On October 30, 1960, the Olembergs fled Castro’s Communist regime and emigrated to Miami. Nieves recalled that the first years in Miami were difficult but were made easier with the strong support of her friends. Everyone helped each other out with household chores and childcare. Four years later, in 1964, Nieves and her husband Isaac co-founded Olem Shoe Corporation. At the beginning, Nieves answered the phones, unloaded shoe cartons and wrote the invoices. When the business grew, Nieves was awarded the official title of COO and credit manager. It was a position she held for 24 years.
In 1986, Nieves officially retired and threw her heart and soul into charitable work, especially for Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America. Nieves was a founding member of the Inter-American chapter of Hadassah where she served as President for over 25 years. Nieves was a no-nonsense businesswoman and carried that demeanor into her charitable endeavors. Nieves was known for going door-to-door collecting for Hadassah and would not leave until she received a check.
Nieves loved to read and had a life-long passion for learning. Her friends will forever remember her as a woman who loved to sing and dance. Nieves and friends would take over the microphone at numerous social events and belt out old Cuban ballads. Nieves was a great dancer. In her later years, she was famous for using her cane as a dancing stick and forgetting why she needed it in the first place. As her friends put it, Nieves had “Chispa” (a spark).
As a mother and grandmother Nieves was the matriarch of the Olemberg family. Every Friday night for the last 30 years, she hosted dinner at “ Babi’s” house. (Babi is Yiddish for grandmother). Nieves took great pride in the accomplishments of her seven grandchildren. She would often say they received their good looks and good brains from her.
Nieves is remembered by her husband Isaac, her four children Robert (Jennifer), Lily (Ariel), Hanita and Lisette (Jeremy); her grandchildren Gaby, Rachel, Aaron, Jackie, David, Daniel, and Sammy; her sister Margarita, brother Miguel, sister-in-laws Felicia and Rosita, nieces Nancy, Sandra, Eva, Jennifer, Tracey, Kim and nephews, Alex and Bernardo. Nieves is also remembered by so many cousins and friends that they are too numerous to name individually.
Everyone who knew Nieves knows that the world will never be the same without her.
To remember Nieves, think of a happy and joyous memory with her and share it with Temple Menorah. Please make all donations in her honor to the Inter American Chapter of Hadassah, 20355 NE 34th Court, Apt. 2326, Aventura, FL 33180 or Temple Menorah, 620 75th St., Miami Beach, Florida 33141.
The funeral will be take place Sunday, November 2, 2014, at 1:00 pm at Temple Menorah, 620 75th Street, Miami Beach. Interment will follow at Mount Sinai Memorial Park, 1125 NW 137th Street, Miami.
Arrangements by Blasberg-Rubin-Zilbert (305) 865-2353
What’s your fondest memory of Nieves?
What’s a lesson you learned from Nieves?
Share a story where Nieves' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Nieves you’ll never forget.
How did Nieves make you smile?
