Maria E. Zuniga, 86, of Hollywood, Florida, passed away on Sunday, March 22^nd, 2020.  Born and raised in Santiago, Chile, Maria was the beloved daughter of Santiago and Elena Diaz Medina.  Maria is survived by her only son, Carlos (El Lucho) and wife Debbie Gonzalez, granddaughters, Maria Elena and Veronica; step granddaughter, Tamara and step great grandchildren, Armando and Destiny, as well as survived by older sister Elena (Lula), and younger brother Pedro (Pelluco) from Chile.

Maria was married to Juan Zuniga, who we all lovingly knew as “Foforito.”  They migrated to the USA in 1970, where they resided in Carol City, Florida. Maria worked briefly in a factory in Hialeah until they bought a house in Hollywood, where they formed a club of Chilean friends who also migrated to the USA. Amongst them were Oscar & Tere (who were the first to shelter them), Rabin & Elizabeth, Don Cloro & Rosa, Luis Reyes & Luisa, along with many others. They formed a family and enjoyed feasts, beaches, barbeques, and holidays always reminiscing stories from their native Chile.

Maria demonstrated her love through cooking.  She was an expert preparing her traditional Chilean culinary plates. She also enjoyed dancing, especially the folkloric Chilean “Cueca,” as well as cumbias.  During the Christmas holidays and particularly every year on September 18^th, Maria would dance and rejoice as she celebrated the Chilean Independence Day.

Maria attended St. Stephen’s Catholic Church every Sunday with her late husband, Juan, a tradition that continued with her son, Carlos. After service, they would enjoy lunch and spend time at Gulfstream Racetrack, since her late husband had worked since he came to the USA and she was raised close to the famous racetrack in the Comuna de Independencia in Santiago, Chile.

Maria was 100% Chilean, however, when her passed, she promised her daughter-in-law Debbie, that she would never leave her son nor granddaughters. She preferred to reside in the USA to be by their side forever. Her joy in life was to spend time with her son and her granddaughters, Maria Elena and Veronica, who she adored unconditionally.

There will be a memorial service and gathering of family and friends to celebrate Maria’s life, on what would have been her 87^th birthday on Saturday, July 11^th, 2020.^. Services will begin at 6pm with “Tributes of a Lifetime” at Boyd-Panciera, Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Florida.

SPANISH VERSION:

Maria E. Zuniga, 86, de Hollywood, Florida, falleció el domingo 22 de marzo de 2020.  Nacida y criada en Santiago, Chile, de padres Santiago y Elena Diaz Medina, Maria le sobreviven su único hijo, Carlos (El Lucho) y su esposa Debbie Gonzalez, nietas, Maria Elena y Veronica, Tamara y biesnietos, Armando y Destiny, así como sobrevivió su hermana major, Elena (Lula), y hermano menor, Pedro (Pelluco) ambos de Chile.

Maria era casada con Juan Zuniga, a quien todos conocíamos con amor como “Foforito.”  Migraron a los EU en 1970, donde residieron en Carol City, Florida. Maria trabajó brevemente en una fábrica en Hialeah hasta que compraron una casa en Hollywood, donde formaron un club de amigos chilenos que también migraron a los EU. Entre ellos estaban Oscar y Tere (que fueron los primeros en albergarlos), Rabin y Elizabeth, Don Cloro y Rosa, Luis Reyes y Luisa, entre muchos otros más.  Formaron una familia y disfrutaban de fiestas, playas, asados, siempre recordando historias de su Chile natal.

Maria demostró su amor a través de la cocina y era una experta cocinando platos Chilenos tradicionales.  Tambien le gustaba bailar, especialmente la folclórica “Cueca” chilena, así como las cumbias.  Durante las fiestas navideñas y particularmente cada 18 de septiembre Maria bailaba y regocijaba celebrando la Independencia de Chile.

Maria asistía todos los domingo a la iglesia Católica San Esteban con su difunto esposo, Juan, una tradición que continuó con su hijo, Carlos. Despues del servicio disfrutaban del almuerzo y pasaban tiempo en el hipódromo Gulfstream, ya qu su difunto esposo había trabajado allí desde que llegó a EU y ella se crió cerca del famoso hipódromo en la Comuna de Independencia en Santiago, Chile.

Maria era 100% chilena, sin embargo, cuando su esposo falleció, le prometió a su nuera Debbie, que nunca dejaría a su hijo ni a sus nietas.  Ella prefirío quedarse en los EU para estar a su lado para siempre.  Su alegría era pasar tiempo con su hijo y sus nietas, Maria Elena y Veronica, a quienes adoraba incondicionalmente.

Habrá un servicio conmemorativo con los familiars y amistades para celebrar la vida de Maria, el sábado 11 de julio de 2020, en lo que habría sido sus 87 cumpleaños. Los Servicios comenzarán a las 6pm con “Tributos de una Vida” en Boyd-Panciera, Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Florida.