Michelle "Michi" Zambrano

On April 10, 2024 in New York, NY at NYU Langone Hospital, Michelle "Michi" Zambrano went to be with our creator. Our warrior lost her battle to cancer. She fought for those she loved. She was always the smallest and yet somehow the strongest. She fought bravely without any complaints in true Michelle fashion. She complimented others and was a joy to be around. She won over people, all the nurses, doctors, patient care technicians, nurse practitioners, as she always does. She would say, “I have to flirt, it’s boring in here.” Staff would come in just to visit with her. She was nothing but love. Our little love was born in Del Rio, Texas and very proud of the community she came from. Michelle was a writer, most recently a blogger and contributor valued for her Latina viewpoint. She also worked with her father in the family business. To know Michelle was to be loved and if you knew her, God shined down on you. Michelle was light, life, love, joy, God-fearing, all about sisterhood and family. She was a collector of sentiments. Every card, every child’s drawing and picture, she kept as if they were a priceless piece of art. Her home is like a museum full of people’s mementos. All were her treasures. As many times as she was complimented, she would never just say thank you. Somehow, she found a way to always give that compliment back to the one that gave it to her. She was selfless, the best listener, non- judgmental and welcoming. She had a way of making everyone feel not only comfortable but special. She was everyone’s favorite and never knew it. Similar to her favorite authors she felt like an outsider. Her favorite authors were Henry David Thoreau (whom Henry her pug is named after), Emily Dickenson and Emerson. She had something in common with them, she was brilliant, an independent thinker and did not conform to societal norms. To quote Thoreau, “it’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” “Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.” “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.” Here’s to Michelle, to what she saw, to the different drummer she heard, and to her truth. Preceding her in death were her grandparents: Jose Maria and Candida Zambrano, and Wenceslao and Aurora Rodriguez; and uncles: David DeLeon, Roy Gonzales, and Mauricio Garza. Michelle is survived by her parents, Ruben and Socorro Zambrano; sister, Maritza Zambrano and husband Jeremy Spector; her beloved dog, Henry. Also surviving her are her aunts and uncles: Filemon and Mariaelena Ortiz, Antonio and Oralia Partida, Jose and Velma Zambrano, Olga Gonzales, Lydia Esparza, Rudy and Dora Padilla, Rosa DeLeon, Raymundo and Debbie Rodriguez, Luis and Ana Martinez, and John and Mandy Rodriguez; Michelle is also survived by her numerous cousins, other relatives and friends. The wake will be held Friday, April 19, 2024 from 5 to 9 p.m. in the Trinity Chapel of Faith. A Holy Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday the 20th of April at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at 1pm with internment to follow at Sunset Memorial Oaks Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: Paul Rodriguez, Jeremy Spector, Chris De Leon, David De Leon, Tyler Rodriguez, Corey Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Louis Martinez, and Selwyn Fredrick.

Michelle "Michi" Zambrano

November 26, 1983 - April 10, 2024