Zoraida was born on the island of Puerto Rico, in the town of Río Piedras, in June 1949. Her mother’s name was Eladia Rivera, and her father’s name was Ramon Cruz.
She was the third-born of her siblings. At the age of four, her mother passed away, and she and her siblings were sent to live with different members of her father’s family.
At the age of 12, her father sent for Zoraida and her siblings to come live in the USA with him and their stepmother in the Bronx, New York.
It was also at the age of 12 that Zoraida accepted Christ as her Savior and was baptized. She was called by God to become a Sunday school teacher, where she could share the love she had always had for children. She attended school in the Bronx and graduated from high school.
At the age of 17, a young man visited the church Zoraida attended and wanted to speak with her. She told him that if he wanted to talk to her, he would have to speak with her father first.
After the young man spoke with her father, her father agreed to allow him to visit Zoraida at their home for one hour on Wednesday evenings. As the young man helped her with her homework, her father would sit right in front of them.
Their relationship continued to grow, and on October 14, 1967, Zoraida married that young man, Cecilio Padilla Jr.
Together, they had five children:
Orlando, Wanda, Eunice Cecilio III, Obed
From their five children, their family continued to grow to include 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Zoraida loved every one of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren equally and deeply.
She was a woman of great faith who remained devoted to God and involved in His ministries throughout her life, no matter what. She now rests in peace, awaiting the reward promised to those who remain faithful: the five crowns spoken of in the Bible, given to her by her Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Visitation will be held at Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, FL 34734, US, on September 11, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, followed by a Funeral Service from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, and a Committal Service from 1:00 pm to 2:15 pm at the same location.
