by Marvin Ramírez
San Francisco — At the age of 90, Melba Lila Zavala Melara passed away, a woman deeply loved by her family and widely known in the San Francisco community, where she lived practically her entire life. Mrs. Melba was born in Managua, Nicaragua, on October 19, 1935, and passed away on November 27 in San Francisco.
The daughter of Ernesto Zavala and Carmela Melara, both deceased, Melba arrived in San Francisco from Nicaragua in 1945, when she was just 10 years old. Upon her arrival, she immediately began her schooling at Leonard Flynn Elementary School, thus beginning a new chapter that would shape her future in this city. From then on, she developed her entire personal and family life here, and therefore was not known in Nicaragua, but rather in the San Francisco community, where she grew up, raised her family, and left her mark for generations.
In life, Mrs. Melba was a joyful woman with a strong character and deep family convictions. She was also a great admirer of basketball and a loyal fan of Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors of San Francisco, a team she enthusiastically supported.
She married Vincent, of Italian nationality or ancestry, who was the father of her three children: Debbie, Hope, and Vicente. Her son Vicente has distinguished himself as a bongo percussionist in salsa music, proudly carrying on his family’s cultural legacy.
Her husband, Vincent, passed away in 1982 from cancer, when their children were still young, leaving Mrs. Melba to head the household. With immense strength, dedication, and love, she managed to raise her family, becoming a fundamental pillar for her children and grandchildren.
She is also survived by eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren, who continue her legacy of values, hard work, and family unity.
Funeral Services
The viewing will be held on December 17 at Sierra Duggan Mortuary, located at 500 Westlake Avenue, Daly City, California, with the rosary at 6 p.m. On December 18th at 11:00 a.m., a funeral mass will be held at Mission Dolores Basilica, located at 3321 16th Street and Dolores Street in San Francisco, followed by burial at the cemetery in Colma.
The staff of El Reportero, and especially its editor, Marvin Ramírez, extend their deepest condolences to the grieving family, offering their respect and solidarity during this time of profound sorrow.
