Francisco Tapia

COVID-triggered Heart Attack, May 8, 2020, 3:15 PM, A cold and rainy day

He was like any other immigrant man; hardworking, reliable: loved God and his family. Born in Samborondón, Ecuador, he migrated to Jersey City, worked in bindery for over 25 years. Papi had his "Sonrisa que yo no fui," an accepting nature, and reveled eating his grilled salmon or fried croaker. Papi's unstinting love of his two sons and six grandchildren, and passion for safeguarding his wife of almost 50 years, Carmen, will always be remembered.

On most Saturdays for the last 30 years, you'll find him at Union City Spanish SDA church teaching, worshipping, and joyfully singing out of tune. He wasn't a perfect man, but a good, altruistic one. For some, altruism is a defect, but for Papi, that distinguished him: gave and never asked for anything in return.

Papi's legacy to the universe is his sons. Hardworking, steadfast, Pablo, and his four children, resourceful and principled Jean with two of his own. Both who happened to inherit his singing abilities, the antithesis of the von Trapp family.

Like other families sharing in the loss of their loved ones during these tough times, the sadness does not lie solely in death, as we must all one-day pass, but the grief of passing without the final embrace, final kiss, final touch. We share this notice of death for his life to be remembered, if only for a moment.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Francisco Tapia, please visit our floral store.