Ofelia Zarate Diaz

It was on a Saturday, September 20, 1947 that Ofelia Zarate-Diaz was born to Eusebio and Catalina Meza Zarate. Little did this beautiful, new born baby girl know how she would one day impact her world. She was “Fela” to her family and friends. In 1959, together with her Mami, Fela was baptized in the saving and powerful name of Jesus Christ by Pastor Elias Valdez. This was a turning point in her life. She fell in love with her Savior and Creator Jesus Christ and it was then that she learned to depend and trust in God, and develope her muscles of faith.

Fela grew into adulthood loving and serving God with all her strength. As only God can do, He blessed Fela with her greatest treasure; the birth of a precious baby girl whom she lovingly named Lydia. When Lily was nine years old, Fela was diagnosed with diabetes.

This medical condition was not without its physical and spiritual consequences to her human body and spiritual faith. Eventually, in 1994, Fela was placed on dialysis and received treatments three times a week for the rest of her living days. She never imagined the amount of people her life would graciously impact by giving God all praise and worship in the midst of her silent pain and suffering. Some wondered why God never healed her physical body and may have asked if it was due to her lack of faith or that of the ministry? Maybe she didn’t pray hard enough, fast long enough, or memorize enough scripture to speak over herself? Just as the Apostle Paul, she too was told that “My grace is sufficient for you”.

As only Jesus Christ our God can do, HE did! She was feeling that maybe she hadn’t done enough for God’s kingdom nor for her healing; then, this is what she was told….

“Fela, because of your infirmity, you’ve reached, encouraged, and touched many souls where other believers have not been able to. Through your infirmity, God used you to speak life into those fellow dialysis patients who were on the verge of suicide, giving up and literally dying. Your life in dialysis was a living, breathing, and tangible testimony to all the patients and nurses who surrounded you about how Faithful your God is. You, simply living this infirmity with your faith intact speaks louder than words.”

She impacted her world….her medical world! She is a wonder. Roughly, a dialysis patient lives between five to ten years while receiving treatment. Fela, was on dialysis twenty-three years. She is a gracious miracle and impacted her world for God’s honor and glory! She truly lived her favorite scripture:

“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

As of Tuesday morning, August 8, 2017, Fela now sleeps awaiting the sound of the shofar. She is survived by her loving daughter, Lydia Diaz-Rivera and her son-in-love Bryan Rivera. She is survived by her siblings, Baudelio Zarate, Guadalupe Zarate, Mary Z (Elias) Lopez, Irma Z (Joel) Ramos, Ramon (Liza) Zarate, Esequiel (Betty) Zarate and Eliseo (Rosy) Zarate, her uncle Martin Meza who was like a sixth brother to her, and cousin Nena Fuentes who was like a third sister to her.

I would like to sincerely thank Davita Edingurg Dialysis, it’s staff and doctors for their loving care of my Mom. I also want to thank Amara Hospice and staff for their kindness towards my Mom and our entire family. May you be blessed greatly!

Join us in celebrating Fela’s life, Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at Palm Valley Memorial Funeral Home in Pharr, Texas; Viewing 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Celebration Service at 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at Christian Life Center in Edinburg, Texas; Celebration Service at 10:00 a.m. with Interment following the service at Palm Valley Memorial Gardens in Pharr. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Palm Valley Funeral Home of Pharr.