Josefina Zapata was born Josefina Lopez Robledo on December 26, 1950 in Tamaulipas, Mexico to Ester and Jose Lopez. She was the fifth of 10 siblings. Josefina met her husband, Jose Luis Zapata in Empalme where they married on February 4th, 1979, and had two children, Jose and Karla. Josefina was a dedicated mother and wife…not to mention a master tortilla maker and lover of Juan Gabriel. As her children grew, her role shifted, and she became Abuela- a role in which she flourished. She loved and cared for each of her grandchildren, raising each of them until they were school age. She passed her free time enjoying watching Caso Cerrado, enthusiastically cheering on the Mexican soccer team, and coloring. In March, at age 71, Josefina was diagnosed with liver cancer. She passed peacefully on June 18th, surrounded by the family to whom she dedicated her life.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, and her siblings, Hilario and Maria Magdalena, Luz, Esteban, Concepcion, and Teresa.

She is survived by her children, Jose Roberto Zapata and his wife Keima, and Karla Zapata Shaw and her husband Michael; her grandchildren, Ariana Shaw, Zoe Zapata, Kloe Shaw, Zacary Zapata, Charlie Shaw, and Daniel Ortega; her siblings Luisa Lopez Garcia, Rosy Pina, and Reynaldo Lopez and his wife Elvira; her sisters-in-law Maria Salazar and husband Isaias, Ofelia Gallegos, and Irene Zapata; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

In Lieu of flowers please make donations to Providence Hospice.