Mrs. Zaida Iris Garcia

March 14, 2016

Zaida Garcia Seijo, affectionately known to her friends as “Shorty”, passed peacefully on Monday, March 14th, 2016 in Briarcliff Manor NY in the company of her children after bravely battling multiple illnesses for the last couple of years. She was a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend to many. Those who knew her will undoubtedly miss her hysterical (and mostly brazen) sense of humor which she kept with her till the very end. She was a strong-willed and fiercely independent woman who loved and cared for her family with an unbridled affection. A creative and artistic mind who loved to work with her hands, enjoyed the peacefulness and solitude of the night, and was relentless in her pursuit of the perfect bargain. Through her example and sacrifice, she taught her children the value of hard work and a dollar, while also amazing us with incredible acts of generosity to others that few will ever know about. She reunites with her husband “Joe” of more than 40 years who she lost suddenly more than 4 years ago. Indeed, for a woman who was notoriously known to arrive late for events she was invited to (and blame on her family), she certainly was in a rush to see the love of her life once again. She is survived by her sons Charlie and Joseph, her grandchildren Justin and Emma, and her great-granddaughter Zaida. They will miss many things about her, including her smile, her laughter, her dancing, her energy and booming voice that could command the room whether you were prepared for it or not. Zaida was not a fan of memorial services and instructed us clearly to abstain from having one for her. To those who knew her, this would come as no surprise. She would not want anyone mourning her death, and would have preferred that you remember the good times you shared with her and keep those moments close to you. For those looking to honor her memory, her family offers the following suggestion. Throughout her years Zaida was responsible for many random acts of kindness upon strangers who barely knew her. We think it gave her great comfort and joy to help others in need when she could. We kindly ask that you bestow your own random act of kindness upon someone in need and know that by doing so, you’ve given “Shorty” great comfort and joy.