Obituary of Zaida Chasi

Our beloved sister Zaida Irinuska Chasi Neira was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador in South America on February 29, 1964. Zaida was the third oldest daughter of seven children of Dalia Neira Arroyave and Carlos Chasi Fuentes. As a premature baby weighing 6 1/2 pounds our Zaida early on galvanized her strength in how to be a survivor and thriver. Sadly, on June 11, 2019 her life suddenly ended fighting a horrible disease. Zaida arrived to the U.S when she was 19 years old and attended LaGuardia Community College receiving an Associate Degree in Bilingual Secretarial Sciences. While in College she did an internship, which ultimately became her full-time employment as staff in the office of Latino Affairs. Zaida served as administrative assistant in this governmental office under Mayor Koch and Mayor Dinkins. A move to Sullivan County in 1994, where she has lived ever since became a community she contributed to immensely. Zaida lived South Fallsburg and Liberty her three children Giuseppe, Irena & Isabel were raised in Sullivan County. Zaida's commitment to her family sustained her determination to always strive for success. Over the last 26 years Zaida has served on numerous boards and has been legislatively appointed to governmental advisory committees as well. The Head Start Policy Council, Sullivan County's Public Health Advisory Board, Sullivan County's Youth Advisory Board, a founding member of SLF-Somos la Llave del Futuro, and part of many initiatives such as the tobacco cessation coalition, the Latino Service Provider coalition which she assisted to establish. In 2014 Sullivan County Branch NAACP honored her, one of its members in recognition of her service to Sullivan County. Zaida believed that our community could always do more to empower families. In conjunction with the NYS Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, Children's Center initiative, Zaida worked as the head teacher in Sullivan Family Court Children's Center, a drop-in crisis center, linking parent to existing resources and providing an alternative child-centers space for parents who have to bring their children to court. Zaida was a proud parent of Head Start graduates, worked for Sullivan County Head Start as a Family Assistant, developing leadership among parents and supporting and encouraging families to engage in their children's lives. Zaida's impact on health care in Sullivan County is part of her legacy. As an ally to the newest immigrant arrivals Zaida joined forces with the leadership of the Public Health Community in support of the creation of a civil servant position that required a Spanish speaker in the Public Health Department. She was the first bilingual outreach health worker in the county hired and proudly worked in that capacity at Sullivan County Public Health Nursing services. Since 2005 Zaida joyfully served as Community Care Partner with the first Federally Funded Community Health Center in Sullivan County, Hudson River HealthCare, HRHCare. The community health center movement is rooted in empowerment of patients and moving beyond medical services, complementing care with patient centered resources. Zaida was always a bright light and her work at HRHCare allowed her to illuminate and directly serve a community she loved and cared deeply about. Zaida is survived by her mother; Dalia Neira Arroyave, three children; Giuseppe Pezo, 29 yrs. of age, Irina Pezo 26 yrs of age, and Isabel Rodriguez 20 yrs of age. Her two Granddaughters; Ailani Chavis, 6 yrs of age. Damaris Pezo 1 yr and 23 months. Siblings; Isabel De Sarmiento, Marjorie Chasi, Belma Wargo, and Daisy Chasi ; Carlos Chasi, and William Chasi, Brother in- law; Brian Wargo. She was a caring loving aunt to; Emmalie, Rebecca, Lindsey, Nino, Ethan, Aaron, Edward, Alex, Joel, Danny, Allan, Bianca, Alena, Efrain, and Jared. Leaving behind sorrows, and tears and her loving family who adored her in every way. Our lovely Daughter, Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, and Sister In- Law was a devoted and wonderful human being, a beautiful soul carrying love everywhere she went, her smile and laugh always kind hearted not only for those she loved, also for anyone she served. Our love for our beautiful Zaida will never fade, she will be missed but never forgotten. May the Lord carry her soul always and forever and may she 'Rest In Peace'. ~Her loving family~ Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, 396 State Route 52, Woodbourne, NY 12788 from 10 to 12:00 PM. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery, Parsonage Road, Woodbourne, NY . Arrangements are under the direction of Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, for further information please call 845-434-7363 or 845-647-8444, or visit our website at colonialbryantfuneralhome.com