Ismael Zayas, Jr.

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Ismael Zayas, Jr.; beloved husband of Martha;ย  loving father of Jamel and Zalena; cherished grandfather of Aydin; dear brother of Jeanette Z. (Americo) Feliciano, Felix (Colleen) Zayas, Carmen D. Zayas, Milagros (Peter) Lugo, Maritza Zayas, Abigail (William) Rice, Roberto Zayas, Myrna Rodriguez and the late Raphael A. Zayas; fond uncle of many; friend to all who knew him; Visitation Private. Friends are invited to join the cemetery service at Montrose Cemetery, 5400 N. Pulaski, Saturday at 11 AM. *Due to Covid-19 restrictions masks and social distancing are required*. Arrangements entrusted to Gibbons Family Funeral Home. For info 773-777-3944 or www.GFFH.com

Tribute Video


Visitation Date

10/09/2020 - 10/09/2020

Service Location

Cemetery Service

Montrose Cemetery

5400 N. Pulaski

Chicago, IL


36 thoughts on “Ismael Zayas, Jr.”

  1. Ish, you were a great friend to me and so many more. We had great times and lots of adventures with all the guys. My prayer for you is that you are at peace. We will all miss you, until we meet again.

  2. I worked with him at the city we felt the same about all THAT crazy stuff they did to us we discussed it many times HE WAS MY BOY AND I WAS SOHAPPY FOR HIM RETIRING AND LEAVING THE STATE IM GLAD HIS WISH CAME TRUE AND HE WAS ABLE TO ENJOY HIS HOME BOAT ETC IT HURT ME THAT HE DIED SO SOON BUT 60%OF PEOPLE THAT CAME FROM OUR DEPT DIDNT EVEN LIVE A YEAR AFTER THEY RETIRED FROM THAT PLACE I HAVE A BOOK FULL OF THEM AT LEAST HD HAD A HAPPY ENDING MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY GOES OUT TO HIS ENTIRE FAMILY IM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS HE WILL BE MISSED BECAUSE HE WAS SO MUCH FUN SO FULL OF LIFE JUST GOOD TO BE AROUND AND HE WAS STRONG HE TOLD IT LIKE IT WAS I REALLY LIKED HIM MY BRO KEPT It real HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED FOREVER MAY GOD GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH TO DEAL WITH THIS GREAT LOSS SO SO SORRY THIS HAPPENED TO YOUR FAMILY MS BUCHANAN

  3. I miss you soo much brudder. You will forever be in my heart. Please give mom ,papi and Ralph a hug. I know you are in good hands ๐Ÿ’”๐Ÿ˜ญ

  4. Mi querido amigo! I am praying for an amazing transition as you go home to be with our father in heaven. I am praying for peace and understanding for your wife, children siblings and extended family. I am so grateful to have known you and have such wonderful memories of our youth with the guys and the great Chicago Salsa scene. I know that you were an amazing and loving husband father brother and friend. You were loved by many and will be missed by many. Dios te bendiga hermano en tu eterno descanso.

    1. My condolences goes to the family in this difficult time. May you R.I.P. brother thank you for the great memories Ismael Zayas. ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป Que en Paz descanse.

    2. My deepest sympathy to all the family and friends ๐Ÿ™ He was a great friend to many, we will miss him deeply ๐Ÿ˜ข I pray in Jesus name confront to the family and friends ๐Ÿ™ Amen โค

      1. My sympathies to the Zayas family on the loss of their dear brother, Ismael. May he Rest In Peace and May God comfort and uphold his family during this difficult time. Prayers for comfort and peace to you all. ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป
        Jeanne Rice

  5. Ismael thank you for your friendship. I always admired and respected the man you became when you married Martha. Your relationship with your children Jamel, Zalena and your grandchild Aydin was admirable. I loved and respected that you always spoke your truth, no filters. You were genuine and made me laugh. I will always be grateful for our friendship. You are loved, and I am blessed to have known you. I will miss you Ish! I have such great memories of you. May God’s love and light surround you and illuminate your way as you transition into your new journey in heaven. Rest in light and peace until we meet again!

  6. I would like to send my Condolences to the Zayas Family. Iโ€™ll always remember Ismael, until we meet again.

  7. It was a delight to know Ismael and an honor to be his colleague. We knew things would be fine whenever we saw Ismael.

    Rest well, Mr. Zayas.

  8. Ismael
    May you rest in eternal peace. I will miss seeing you visit my office with that smiling face and bumping into each other at the restaurants. I will keep your family in my prayers to cope with this unexpected loss. May the Lord grant them peace that surpasses all understanding.
    Respectfully
    Marisol Martinez your AAA agent

  9. My deepest condolences to the family. He will always remain in my heart. A great friend we lost to soon. May he R.I.P. my prayers to The whole family. Had the honor to have known him since we were all young. A great loss. Rest in paradise my dear friend. For ever in my heart. Until we meet again. Youโ€™re now with the Lord and loved by all your old friends. My heart is broken , but I ask God not to mourn you but to celebrate your life instead. Celebrating him as he was , always happy, joyful and always with a beautiful smile. Youโ€™ll never be forgotten my friend youโ€™ll remain in our hearts. May the Lord give his family the strength they need and to always remember him with love and great memories they have of him. Keep him safe Lord and give us all the strength we need to always remember him with love, joy and laughter. And let us all continue celebrating his life. Ismael you always brought us joy in our hearts and weโ€™re always a great friend. Rest now our angel in heaven. We will meet again one day. Love you Ismael!! You will be missed by us your old friends. ๐Ÿ’”๐Ÿ˜ช๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™. You were so loved by us all ๐Ÿ™ and will always be remembered with love in our hearts. May the family find peace in their hearts with Gods help. Keeping them all in my prayers. God Bless you always. From your old friend Ginny Rivera โค๏ธ

  10. Ismael you will be truly missed.
    Never a dull moment with you.
    Peace~n~Light into your new transition ๐Ÿ•Š๐Ÿ™

  11. My deepest heartfelt condolences and prayers, to Martha and the entire Zayas family. Ismael’s generosity and unique spirit will live forever in my
    heart. โค

  12. Ismael, my childhood in Chicago was the best, I’m so happy I was able to be your friend, hang with you at all the Salsa dances, at The Concha , The Palledium and best of all the priviledge of dancing salsa with you. The heavens has now become a big Salsa Dance. May you Rest In Peace and the Lord welcome you with open arms. My condolences for your wife and family.

  13. My condolences to my dearest cousin Martha and family. Praying that God gives you and family the strength in these difficult moments. Love you dearly my dear cousin

  14. May he rest in eternal peace. Great friend with an infectous smile and personality. Called me Froggy throughout high like i was the one with the biggest eyes. Sincere condolences to his wife and children. Carmen Zayas un fuerte abrazo amiga. Much love.

  15. I would like to send my condolences on the loss of your brother. May the family bond in this time of sorrow and know that he will forever be looking down on each of you every day.
    God bless you all ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป๐Ÿ˜ข

  16. My dear friend. Rest in eternal peace. We live in this earth and meet many people. some become true friends and some become acquaintances. But you Were truly a good friend and I will always remember And miss you.Till we meet again. And to the family ,my sincere condolences.

    1. My condolences to the Zayas family. Brother you left too soon, Iโ€™ll keep the memories of us growing up together with me always. God bless you and your family.

  17. My condolences to the family.you will always be with me when I ride I still have the bike ๐Ÿ I bought from you.
    R I P my friendโค๏ธ

  18. My condolences to the Zayas family, brother you left us too soon. Iโ€™ll keep the memories of growing up together. God bless you and your family.

  19. Pamela Spraggins I worked with Ishmael @ 10 S Kedzie where I met him & we clicked right away, he loved to drive & be sarcastic all the time in a fun way, he was so happy with his fancy KIA he was riding slick with his shades on top his head, we both left the department & linked back up on Facebook, Gave him the Nickname God Father because he was handsome & smooth, my heart dropped we I found out on his home going, to the family please keep your heads held high and you share his life & got all those good memories to have forever, always the God Father Iโ€™ll miss you 4/Eva โค๏ธ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿฝ Now get your rest ๐Ÿ’‹

  20. My deepest sympathy to Ismael’s family. We grew up on Mozart and Division and he was always special to our family. Please know that Ismael was loved by many from the “hood.” God Bless you all and be assured that he will forever be watching over all his loved ones.

  21. Martha and family, please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. God bless you ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ

  22. Ismael zayas was great friend knew him in Tampa Wesley chapel area … will be greatly missed … Rest In Peace my friend

  23. My Good Friend Ish,

    Every memory I have of you is filled with laughs at the park, by the tennis courts, festivals, at work with the City, around all the old timers, and on and on. This world has a void, and heaven is brighter with you in it.

    Missing you my man, thinking about your family and all touched by your life.

    Rest In Peace brother,

    The Elias Family

  24. Ismael you will be missed so much so glad to have known you and a pleasure, you were always smiling and making us laugh you knew how to lift someoneโ€™s spirit may god watch over you prayers and hugs for you and your wonderful family Rip Ismael till we meet again!!!๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™โค๏ธโค๏ธ

  25. Ismael I cherished your friendship you will be missed. I admired the way you loved Martha, your children and Grandson. God has received an Awesome Angel! My heart, thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Love You!

  26. On behalf of the Taรฑรณn family and all his friends from La Bruquena Restaurant our most sincere condolences to all of his family. May all the great memories ease the pain and sorrow. Vuela alto Ish…!

  27. Ish,

    Can’t believe you left us so soon! It came as a complete surprise and shock to me when I received the bad news from George!

    Only the good die young! You weren’t suppose to depart this world! Not you! You have survived so much in your life! But clearly our Father in Heaven called you home! Your now at at better place my brother!

    My father and your father were friends when they lived on the same block on Hirsh and Bell Streets. We carried that same relationship into our generation, but it was short lived when I went back to go live with my mom on the Near Westside on Ashlabd by Taylor Street. Some time later we reconnected when I saw you coming down the stoop of my girlfriend’s house on Ashland.

    Many years later, after my ex-fiance’s father died and I was coleading the effort to recognize our famed ‘Borinqueneer’ soldiers (of which my ex-fiance’s father was one), I posted this link on Facebook to which you responded. That was the last time we spoke to each other! And now this!

    https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2038267066404030&id=100006622681550

    Well my brother, R.I.P. My condolences to your family and relatives. See ya on the other side!๐Ÿ•Š

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