Olga M. Zayas

”Mami” Was What She Was. She lived for her children. They came first in all her decisions and plans. She was selfless. She never thought about herself first. She came later after everyone was taken care of including our needy husband. After living such a prosperous life in Cuba as an only child from a huge family, she was spoiled. She told me countless stories of her life in Ciego De Avila, Camaguey.

She attended "la Terresana" Catholic school, where she boarded from Monday to Friday by her choice. She loved being in school, going to church and nuns. She eventually found them and joined their society, which was worldwide. She traveled on excursions to Europe on religious pilgrimages.

My mom and Dad worked hard and saved money. She was the engine that fueled and guided our family forward. She use to say "no hay dinero para muchas cosas pero para el colegio católico Si”. I learned this and knew I had to do the same when I had my son. We were lucky to have a stay at home mom in grammar school until middle school. Then she got a job a couple of blocks from school (St.Mary's , West New York, NJ) from 9-3pm. She walked us to school, went home for lunch with her, and she picked us up after school. It was great! When we went to high school, she started building her career slowly and worked at Wella, Kmart and finally Calvin Klein where she retired from.

My mom never told us we had to study or do our homework. We knew how hard both of them worked. It was understood. She supported us in our studies. If we needed help she got it for us. I remember going over a test grade with her and how disappointed I was. She said "Don't worry, it’s good! You will do better next time." We always knew we had to study and do well. That was the gift of opportunity she had in Cuba. Thats what they worked so hard to provide us with. It was understood and unspoken.

After years of raising us and giving us all the tools to be totally independent, we strived! She was beyond proud of us. She never got in our business and she let us live our lives. No judgment, no guidance, just support when we needed to hear it. The way it’s suppose to be!

My mother was my first fashion exemplar. She would put clothes on lay-a-way in the stores on Bergenline Ave, WNY, NJ.

I remember how happy she was getting me that special dress in the window and shoes. No splurging but special for the occasions. We were always with her, my brother and me. But as a girl, we continued doing more girl things together as I got older. Peter wanted to stay home. Ha, ha! It was food shopping every Friday at Shop Rite, Butcher shop on Saturday with "Fello". Later on, nails and the mall after cleaning the house together on Saturday.

Our mother gave us everything she could within their means. She definitely spoiled us in our later years with countless gifts and others.

Our mother was "Mami", my best friend and rock! We were always together. We were not perfect as most relationships are, but we always made up within 24 hours. We couldn't take it for much longer. Peter was her favorite. Her little boy who looked like her side of the family! Her little boy as every mother loves their Boys! She was blessed to have become the best "Aba"to David and his countless friends and people from St. Patrick School. She meet her great grand children, James and Benjamin. She was in love! She loved, as her own, all her nephews and nieces from my father’s side. She loved her brother and sister in laws as their own.

I thank God today for all these years with her and support that I got from my husband. I was able to retire early to take care of her. I am grateful for the caregivers throughout the years: Ana, Dunia, Karina, Mari and Geraldina.

We will miss her presence, her smile and fashion advise. She was beautiful inside out to the end. Difficult to fit her shoes! May she finally rest in peace with God, her mom and dad, and all her countless family members she told me so much about all her life.

Rest in peace.

We love you Mami