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March 13, 2010
Services
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 17, 2009 at 7 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Monday from 6 – 8 PM.
Zelanda Hernandez “Zela” age 86 of Clifton died Saturday, March 13, 2010 at the Wayneview Subacute Care Center in Wayne. Her passing took place, peacefully, after having received the love and caring of her family who were constantly at her bedside.
She was born in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba and lived there before moving to New York City in 1956 where she resided throughout most of her adult life.
Zelanda had a go get it nature that uprooted her, her two sisters and two brothers, from the Cuban setting to a land of opportunity called America. It was her nature to seek opportunity and, she did just that, signing up for schooling at New York Community College finally obtaining a Masters Degree in Social Services.
She obtained employment from the New York City Department of Social Service as a Social Worker. Zelanda was especially good at that work because she had a genuine gracious nature that she offered to all people.
She kept herself socially active in the community belonging to the Republican Organization and would often find herself involved with Republican Organization traveling to Washington, DC especially during the Ronald Reagan and George Bush Sr. administrations.
She was family oriented indeed and when at one point her sister ended up in a nursing home she fetched her from that home and took her into her own home. It was very difficult for her but love ruled her decision making because she knew it was the right thing to do. Years later she herself was in the same situation and ended up in a nursing home herself.
Her nephew and his wife reacted to her dilemma and took her to their home in Clifton, NJ. What we are seeing here is a powerful sense of family and family responsibility in action. In our society we often choose to place the weak one or perceived burdensome one in an institution of some kind. Out of sight out of mind perhaps. This is not the case here but because of family loyalty and training that caused them to accept responsibility no matter how difficult the task. The bottom line is that this family has done the right thing and indeed will be blessed for their dedication.
Zela had a very special devotion to her Catholic and Buddhism faiths. You can be assured that her spiritual teachings carried her through many difficult challenges.
She was gifted with a personality that reached out to others and she expressed that with her life deeds and wonderful sense of humor that caused others to admire her and call her friend. These qualities no doubt entwined into her professional social work with clients. It is specifically these talents that schooling does not give you. These life practices come from within the person and did so as she pursued her professional life.
Surviving this wonderful lady are her nephew Aurelio Lopez and his wife Janina of Clifton as well as other relatives and friends.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 17, 2009 at 7 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Monday from 6 – 8 PM.
March 13, 2010
Services
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 17, 2009 at 7 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Monday from 6 – 8 PM.
Zelanda Hernandez “Zela” age 86 of Clifton died Saturday, March 13, 2010 at the Wayneview Subacute Care Center in Wayne. Her passing took place, peacefully, after having received the love and caring of her family who were constantly at her bedside.
She was born in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba and lived there before moving to New York City in 1956 where she resided throughout most of her adult life.
Zelanda had a go get it nature that uprooted her, her two sisters and two brothers, from the Cuban setting to a land of opportunity called America. It was her nature to seek opportunity and, she did just that, signing up for schooling at New York Community College finally obtaining a Masters Degree in Social Services.
She obtained employment from the New York City Department of Social Service as a Social Worker. Zelanda was especially good at that work because she had a genuine gracious nature that she offered to all people.
She kept herself socially active in the community belonging to the Republican Organization and would often find herself involved with Republican Organization traveling to Washington, DC especially during the Ronald Reagan and George Bush Sr. administrations.
She was family oriented indeed and when at one point her sister ended up in a nursing home she fetched her from that home and took her into her own home. It was very difficult for her but love ruled her decision making because she knew it was the right thing to do. Years later she herself was in the same situation and ended up in a nursing home herself.
Her nephew and his wife reacted to her dilemma and took her to their home in Clifton, NJ. What we are seeing here is a powerful sense of family and family responsibility in action. In our society we often choose to place the weak one or perceived burdensome one in an institution of some kind. Out of sight out of mind perhaps. This is not the case here but because of family loyalty and training that caused them to accept responsibility no matter how difficult the task. The bottom line is that this family has done the right thing and indeed will be blessed for their dedication.
Zela had a very special devotion to her Catholic and Buddhism faiths. You can be assured that her spiritual teachings carried her through many difficult challenges.
She was gifted with a personality that reached out to others and she expressed that with her life deeds and wonderful sense of humor that caused others to admire her and call her friend. These qualities no doubt entwined into her professional social work with clients. It is specifically these talents that schooling does not give you. These life practices come from within the person and did so as she pursued her professional life.
Surviving this wonderful lady are her nephew Aurelio Lopez and his wife Janina of Clifton as well as other relatives and friends.
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