Zenaida Salvador

On Tuesday August 13th, 2019, Zenaida (Zeny) Salvador, wife, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, reached a final end to her suffering at the age of 73. Zeny was born on March 24th, 1946 in Manila, Philippines growing up with her loving parents, and 4 siblings. She graduated from St. Catherines University Hospital in 1968, and proudly began her career as a Registered Nurse. However her dreams and ambitions fuelled a desire for even more, and in 1971 she traveled abroad to begin a new life in the United States choosing to settle in the bustling city of Houston, TX. Her loving and adventurous spirit had her quickly surrounded by numerous friends and acquaintances who took her in and made her feel at home in her new surroundings; in particular, a wonderful and caring couple (Mr.&Mrs. Gerald Freeman), who in many ways became her surrogate family while her own still remained afar. Soon after her arrival, she married, and later gave birth to her son Mark at St. James Hospital in Houston. Zeny never forgot the love and kindness of the Freemans, and continued to make every effort to remain in touch and visit with them well into their later years. Zenys ambitions drew her to seek further opportunities for her new family, and in 1975 they moved to Prince Albert, SK for a short time, and then onto Red Deer, AB where she continued her Nursing career at Michener Center and met her lifelong best friend Lily Flores. She later gave birth to her daughter May at Red Deer Regional Hospital where her dear friend Lily also gave birth to her own daughter on the same exact day. In 1979, her wanderlust and desire for the very best for her family led her to Calgary, AB where she bought a home, raised her children and continued her career at Forest Grove Care Center under the strong and caring leadership of its owner Mr. King, until her retirement from Nursing in 1994. She was a skilled, caring, and intelligent Nurse, respected and loved by her peers, co-workers, and individuals in her care. For many years after, countless people whod had the pleasure of working with her frequently commented that “…the place was never the same again after she was gone…” But, Zenys tenacious and ambitious nature refused to allow her to just simply retire. Her long time love of children turned into another dream of owning her own Daycare Business, a dream which she made real in 1994 with the purchase of Mama Bear Daycare in the NE, followed by the purchase of a second location of the same name in the SW. Through the ownership and operation of her businesses, she touched the lives of countless children, families, and staff some of whom became lifelong friends including Novelette Morrison, Teresa McAllister, and Marissa Madrelejos. Her children grew, and her daughter married in 2014 blessing her with the addition of her loving son-in-law Danny, and her Grandsons: Ethan and Vincent. Then 10 days before her 68th birthday, came the birth of her Granddaughter who became her namesake: Zenaida (Gigi). As she raised her family, Zeny taught her children the importance of God, reading the Bible daily, and as she would often say: the importance of “…just being together…”. She filled her childrens lives with her love of travel taking them across the world every second year to spend Christmases with their extended family abroad, along with almost bi-weekly trips out to Red Deer to spend time with her dear friends Lily and Sonny and their children, Elbert and Elizabeth, plus numerous seasonal road trips to Canmore, Banff, Edmonton, Montana, across every state of the Mid-West United States, Texas, California, San Diego, Nevada and Hawaii. Her love for travel continued even more so after her children were grown, and she enjoyed many more experiences with her sisters, brother, nieces and nephews throughout the Pacific Rim, Halifax, the Caribbean and Europe. She also gladly hosted her family abroad to come and visit her home in Calgary, ensuring that they had the opportunity to take in all the pleasures of the city she called home. When she was not travelling the world, she volunteered her time and knowledge at the GBC Childcare Center, and spent her time caring for and enjoying the presence and love of wonderful her family and friends including: her partner Edgar, sister Marilou and brother-in-law Eddie, sister Maryann, brother Alan, her best friend Lily and her husband Sonny, Lilibeth & Abelardo, Nida, Lilia, Marissa & Ted, Hahn, Kelly, and so many more than there is room to mention. But above all, she maintained a steadfast and diligent commitment to prayer and reading the teachings of Christ. In 2016 she was re-baptised at Thornhill Baptist Church by her beloved Pastor: Gary Hellard, and re-married in April of 2019 to Edgar Pineda who was faithfully by her side, along with her sisters, and brother-in-law in her last moments. Blessed by the loving sound her nephew Etchelle and loved ones as they read to her from Scripture in the Bible, she found her final peace. To the end, never wanting to cause concern for her physical condition, she repeatedly assuaged the worries of friends and family by saying “…Im ok, Im fine, dont worry…”, and while her passing was for us so sudden, it was ultimately just as she had wanted it: “… to be in hospital, to go quickly, to go peacefully….”. Zeny will be forever known and remembered for her loving and unceasing generosity (often at her own personal sacrifice), her desire to help and improve the lives of all those around her, her firm faith and trust in God, her love for her beloved dog Cotton, but most of all: the love and dedication to her family, children, and grandchildren. Zenaida is survived by: her husband Edgar Pineda, her son Mark, her daughter May Zubot (Danny), and her grandchildren: Ethan, Vincent, and Gigi, her sister Marilou del Rosario (Eduardo), her sister Maryann Santibanez, her brothers Daniel Santibanez (Ligaya), and Alan Santibanez, her nieces and nephews: Efraim del Rosario, Cattleya Waters (Andy) and her children Tatyaana and Thalia, Etchelle del Rosario (Rosa), and their children Valentina and Marissa, Erwin Ortanez (Michelle), and their children Ervin and Chloe, Alain Ortanez (Julie), and their son Jeremy, Jennifer Ortanez, Danabel Lizen (Glen) and their son Yuan, Candy Magdangal and children Marie Angelique, Randy and Robyn, Jordan Magdangal (Karla), and their children Lucas and Gavin, Divine Grace Carillo (Francis), Hannah Magdangal, Harold Santibanez (Kristine), and their children Gabriel and Coby, Eric Santibanez, Joanne Santibanez (Winston), and children Ivan and Gwendolyn, Alan Santibanez, and children Saryn and Amaia, and of course her beloved Cotton. Awaiting her arrival in heaven are her loving parents Belen and Silas Santibanez, and her dear friend and sister, Alicia Magdangal. Many, many heartfelt thanks to the Emergency Room staff at the FMC, Dr. Marc Webster, the wonderful, competent and caring Nurses at the Tom Baker Cancer Center, and the reliable and trustworthy drivers who provided her safe transport through the volunteer driver program at the Foothills Medical Center. Many thanks also to the members of Thornhill Baptist Church, and Grace Baptist Church for your many years of prayer and fellowship, and especially to Pastor Gary Hellard for the sacrifices you made to be with us at this difficult time. Many thanks too to the wonderful staff at Piersons Funeral Services for your kindness, gentleness and patience. At Zenys request, Funeral Services will be conducted privately for Family. On her behalf, many thanks and heartfelt appreciation are extended to all for respecting these wishes, and for the prayers, and kind words of love and condolences graciously shared with us on the Funeral Home website. God Bless you all for being a part of her life. One of Zenys favorite passages, and a last wish and reminder for us all: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. Matthew 11:28

Funeral Home:

Pierson’s Forest Lawn Chapel

4121 – 17 Avenue SE

Calgary, AB

CA T2A 0T1