Zaida Luz Rodriguez (September 19th 1924 - April 28th 2024)

Zaida Luz was born in Naguabo, Puerto Rico on Sept. 19th 1924. She was the eldest of nine children born to Elisa Anderson de Rodriguez and Inez Rodriguez. She was a bright child, a straight A honors student, and graduated earlier than her peers. After attending the University of Puerto Rico, she became a school teacher in Naguabo, while simultaneously raising 6 of her siblings when her parents traveled to New York City to find work and plant roots. Zaida and her siblings joined their parents, living in Washington Heights, Manhattan, and later Bushwick and Brownsville, Brooklyn. She worked for the Diocese of Brooklyn's Angel Guardian Home until she moved to Wilmington, Delaware in 1976.

In Wilmington, She worked for the Latin American Community Center. Zaida also had deep ties and commitment, to her parish community, helping at the St. Paul's Rectory with translations, and teaching CCD classes until her retirement.

Zaida was a highly independent woman with an impeccable work ethic, and a role model to all of her nieces and nephews. She invested her savings in fixer uppers, making necessary repairs and renting them over the decades. During most of her life, she selflessly sacrificed so much for the well being of her family, never asking for anything in return, except that they adhere to their Catholic faith and attend mass every week.

After retiring, she helped raise and care for her nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews with unconditional love, and such boundless energy, that in her 90's she was still squatting to play with the children at eye level. Zaida was a devoted caregiver who helped her sisters, Alicia, Ada and Carmen in their final days. She never had her own children, but she nurtured, loved and cared for so many children and family members. She instilled a love of The Lord, morality, ethics, integrity to the truth, and high standards in all those whose lives she touched. She made trips with her nieces, nephews, and visiting relatives to Mother Cabrini Shrine in Manhattan, and St. John Neumann in Philadelphia to humbly ask and pray for their intercession.

If you were blessed to know Zaida, then you knew she always had your back, especially during tough times. Zaida was highly intuitive, and if she perceived a family member was overwhelmed or in need of help, she would get in her car and show up on their door step ready to pitch in. She was very protective of her family, always there to provide her encouragement, wisdom, and advice. In her last years her brothers, Carlos (Charlie) and Ramon repeatedly thanked her for everything she did for them. They never forgot how she gave of herself for their well being, protection and future.

Zaida loved visiting her family in New York during the holidays, the family parties, and she always had an open door policy for all of her family and friends too. She loved to pass on family traditions, such as having the new generation of children work together to learn how to make pasteles for Christmas in honor of her mother, Elisa, so they could pass the torch on to their children. In 2009 she had the rare opportunity to join her family on a trip to Puerto Rico, visiting her hometown, Naguabo, San Juan and the South Western Coast, reconnecting with cousins and childhood friends.

Zaida's family feels blessed and grateful that they could come together in September 2023 to celebrate her 99th birthday in her favorite color: pink, organized by her great nephew, Ian and her nieces. She was very touched at receiving so much genuine love and warmth, especially by the children present.

For such an extraordinary and special human being, Zaida lived her life with great humility, restraint and discipline, setting an example for those she helped raise.

She is pre-deceased by her parents, Elisa and Inez, her siblings Cesar Arturo Rodriguez of Carolina, Puerto Rico, Ada Inez Vitanza of Staten Island,NY, Carmen Mercedes Kushner and Edna Alicia Rodriguez of Wilmington, DE, Theodora Higuero of West Palm Beach, Florida, and Maria Margarita Rodriguez of Manhattan, NY.

She is survived by her brothers, Carlos Manuel Rodriguez of Queens, NY and Ramon Rodriguez of Staten Island, NY, her nieces and nephews, great neices and nephews, numerous cousins, relatives, friends and a large extended family who immensely loved her, and will miss her greatly.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the services to celebrate Zaida's life on Wednesday, May 8th, 10:00 am at St. Paul Catholic Church, 1010 W. 4th Street Wilmington, DE 19805. Interment will follow at Cathedral Cemetery, 2400 Lancaster Avenue, Wilmington, DE 19805.