Daisy Machado

“All my work is for the Master, He is all my heart’s desire; O that He may count me faithful, in the day that tries by fire!” SASB #672

Daisy’s heart desire was to serve Her master faithfully and she did just that from the day she gave her life to Jesus as a young teen, through her 31 years of officership and beyond.

She was born in Montevideo, Uruguay to Catholic parents Gumersindo Alvarez and Maria Gimenez Alvarez. She didn’t have an easy childhood as her and her brother Raul dealt with an alcoholic father. During her early years, an officer from the Salvation Army invited them to the corps. Daisy accepted Jesus as her Savior and became very involved in the life of the corps. She loved Jesus deeply and strived to faithfully serve Him in anything that was available. It was at the corps that she met the love of her life, Felipe whom she married in 1962.

In January 1971, after serving the Lord faithfully in Uruguay, the Machado family, Silvia (4), Edgardo (2) and Daniel (only 9 months), left the Central Corps of Montevideo and were offered by Major Cesar Ferri, an assignment in Puerto Rico where they were invited to help establish the work of the Salvation Army in its beginnings. They worked in Hope House Adult Rehabilitation Center. This included responsibility for La Perla Project, which was followed by an assignment at the San Jose Outpost at the end of 1971. This is where Daisy and Felipe really began their Training to become Salvation Army Officers. In 1972 they served at the San Juan Temple Corps as Cadet Lieutenants and then joined their 'Blood and Fire Session' at the Training School in Suffern, NY for their commissioning in 1973.

The appointments that followed are: Corps Officer, Guayama, PR, (1973), Ponce, PR Corps, (1979), Rochester Temple, NY, (1981), Philadelphia, Olde Kensington Corps, PA, (1985), Regional Youth Secretary, San Juan, PR, (1987). In 1989, she became Regional Youth Secretary, San Juan, PR, THQ, Hispanic Ministries Specialist, (1992), Director of Women’s Organizations, San Juan, PR, (1994), Officer Commander and Women’s Outreach Ministries, Mexico, (1998), Associate Director of Cross-Cultural Ministries, SFOT, Suffern, NY, (2001).

During her Officership, together with her husband, they lead three Brengle Institutes in Chile, Brazil and Mexico. Certainly, a fitting tribute to a woman of God who lived out the Holiness experience that she taught with such great conviction. After their retirement in 2001 they had 3 post-retirement assignments which included Corps Officers at the Fajardo Corps in Puerto Rico (the last Corps her husband opened when he was the Divisional Commander there), Divisional Commanders in Rosario, Argentina (South America East Territory) and Corps Officers in Holyoke, Massachusetts. During this time, they also participated in a Divisional Congress in Brazil and several Territorial Hispanic Seminars.

Commissioner Tillsley has commented, “the development of robust and theologically sound Hispanic ministries in the territory owes much to the insistence on, and careful teaching of Salvation Army doctrine by Lt. Colonel Daisy Machado.” Daisy had a passion to make sure our future leaders understood our Wesleyan, Holiness and specifically Salvation Army distinctives, and was not shy in offering corrective instruction if she perceived cadets or officers straying from this theological foundation. She possessed a clear understanding of the relationship between sound doctrine and sound ministry practice, both of which were modeled throughout her active officership and the ongoing mentoring of officers that continued in retirement.

Lt. Colonel Daisy Machado is survived by her three children: Major Silvia Machado-Ocasio (Luis) of New York, NY, Edgardo (Sherry) of Oregonia, Ohio and Daniel (Solimar) of Washingtonville, NY. She was a proud “Abuela” (Grandmother) to her 4 grandchildren, Alyssa, Brianna, Alexandra, and Daniel Felipe, and step-grandma to, Madison, Heidi, and Taina. She was a beloved “Aba” (Great grandma) to Nolia, Cianna, Caspian, Zechariah, and Selena – all whom loved her dearly and will miss her immensely!

Messages of condolence may be sent to Major Silvia Machado-Ocasio – 190 Buckingham Rd, West Hempstead, NY 11552. Edgardo Machado – 597 Middleboro Rd, Oregonia, Ohio 45054.

Daniel Machado – 295 Bull Rd-Washingtonville, NY 10992.

Arrangements are as follows:

Graveside Service will be held at Kensico Cemetery, 273 Lakeview Ave., Valhalla, NY 10595 on Tuesday, October 14th at 11:00am.

Flowers and Condolences may be sent to: Wannamaker & Carlough Funeral Home – 177 NY-59, Suffern, NY 10901.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28