Obituary of Zonia Echevarria

Zonia M. Echevarria, 89, of East Hartford formerly of Glastonbury, the wife of the late Luis Echevarria died Tuesday (March 6, 2012) at St. Francis Hospital. Born in Cuba, she was the daughter of the late Jose and Aurora (Boeras) Montalvo.

Zonia worked as a music teacher in Havana and received her Doctorate degree in Psychology before moving to the US in 1969. She had retired from the Travelers Insurance Company in 1990 after 20 years of service. Zonia always wanted to do something to repay what she considered her good fortune, so in her retirement she volunteered with the Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services.

In her last ten years, she was a devoted caregiver to her sister Olga, while she was suffering from Alzheimer's.

She is survived by her sister Gaciela Portuondo of Tampa, FL, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, including Maria Cabrera of Glastonbury, who she resided with; her great-nieces and nephews, Rosa Grady and her husband Steve of NJ, Sara Golden and her husband Paul of Kansas, Alex Rodriguez and his wife Katie of Glastonbury, and Michael Rodriguez of TX. She is also survived by her 'adopted' daughter Rosa Juan of Manchester; her grandchildren Cari Vincente and her husband Curt of Mansfield, and Juan Juan and his wife Jennifer of Bolton; her great-grandchildren Chad and Cristina Vincente, and Trevor and Marina Juan. Besides her husband she was predeceased by her sisters, Carmen Martinez, Olga Gonzalez, Teresa Canda, Sara Correa, Marta Amenabar, and Melba Montalvo.

Funeral service will be held on Friday (March 9, 2012) 10 am at the John F. Tierney Funeral Home 219 West Center St. Manchester followed by burial in Hillside Cemetery, East Hartford. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Friday morning from 9-10 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Development Office, Catholic Charities, 839-841 Asylum Avenue Hartford, CT 06105-2801. For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.