Celia Maria Correas Zapata

Dr. Celia M. Correas de Zapata passed with God's Peace and Grace at age 88 on August 21, 2022, at her home in Clovis, surrounded by loving family. She was born in Mendoza, Argentina October 9, 1933, to Dr. Edmundo Correas and Carolina Leal de Correas. She studied Filosofía y Letras at the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, where her father was a prominent historian and a university founder. She married her first love, chemical engineer Daniel Zapata in 1956 at Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro in Chacras de Coria, Mendoza and later emigrated to California, where her husband worked for Sunkist and later, Hewlett Packard. She started a small Spanish school, earned her PhD in Spanish at UC Irvine and with her devoted husband, dedicated herself to raising her children, Carol and Martín.

Celia Correas de Zapata was also a popular, Distinguished Professor of Spanish at San Jose State University for four decades. She advanced the careers of countless first generation Latino students, establishing scholarships and mentoring pupils as family. She pioneered as literary critic and champion of Latin American women writers, such as Isabel Allende, Luisa Valenzuela, Elena Poniatowska, introducing them to the US through her conferences and writings. Her seminal anthology, Short Stories by Latin American Women: The Magic and the Real, sold widely and her book-length interview of Isabel Allende, Vida y espíritu, appeared in various languages.

Isabel Allende wrote on 8-24-22 to honor her comadre Celia in Memoriam: "When no one had heard of The House of the Spirits, you were teaching it at the university. With your contagious enthusiasm you inspired [hundreds of] students and you brought me to California. Thanks to you, I have made a life in this country."

Celia Zapata also befriended "Boom" giants Julio Cortázar, Juan Rulfo and Nobel Mario Vargas Llosa, among others. In her own right, she was a poet, publishing books of poetry in Mexico, acclaimed by critics, including Stanford poet-professor Fernando Alegría.

Celia Zapata's greatest loves were her family and friends in the US, Latin America and Spain. She lived happily for many years with her second husband, Dr. Roland Hamilton, Distinguished SJSU Professor of Spanish, whose sons Paul and Roland hold fond memories of gatherings with guitars, singing and tango dancing. In her elder years, from her home in Clovis, she continued devoted calls to her brothers Jorge and Raúl Correas, her sister Susana Correas, as well as beloved nieces, nephews, friends. At each instance she championed her children Carol Zapata-Whelan, PhD, Martin Zapata, MSW, her "adopted" daughter Elia Alejandre, MA, in all their pursuits: Carol's writings and teaching Spanish at CSUF or Martin's early work at Clínica de la Raza or Elia's chairing Gilroy High School's Modern Languages Department.

Celia Zapata adored and celebrated los suyos: son-in-law, Walt Whelan; her beloved grandchildren, who called her "Miti": Brian, Vincent, Lucas, Celine, Isabel Whelan (Zapata) who took trips with her and delighted in her stories; Daniel, Christopher, Natalie Scettrini (Alejandre) who invited her often and later sent love from Gilroy; great grandchildren Alessandra, Luisa, Joaquín, Daniel Whelan (Silberman); Noah, Parker Whelan (Assemi) who enchanted her regularly at family gatherings and sudden visits; Otto and Harrison Screttrini who delighted her in photos; granddaughters-in-law Tali Silberman Whelan and Ashley Assemi Whelan who made sure friendly babies were in her arms or nearby; and honorary son-in-law Larry Scettrini who helped Elia smooth all paths for "Miti"; great niece Amelia and nephew Findlay Andrews who made her laugh from LA on Sundays. She was blessed by beloved honorary great grandson Antonio Sillas Pérez as well as beloved honorary family Jenny Vázquez, Lupita Nona Yrlas, Esther Arthur, Andrea Pérez who ensured health, joy, order and Frappuccino runs.

Despite the health challenges of approaching age 89 in a pandemic, Dr. Celia Zapata was invincible in strength and enthusiasm. She delighted in people, nature, art, I Love Lucy re-runs, FaceTime, photo collages, cheetah prints and red lipstick. She loved all music especially by Celine & Isabel, Martín & Carol, Carlos Gardel, Vicente Fernández and Roberto Carlos's song of thanks to God: A Montanha. Sundays, she swayed, danced, sang in the family mini-van and in her wheelchair on the way to her favorite place, Toca Madera Winery, where her radiance and beauty made her new friends and where she blew kisses to staff over a glass of white wine. (For her energy she is indebted to her beloved MD, Dr. Sumara Hayat and the prayers of the OLPH sisters from Spain. She was also grateful for the Sacrament of the Sick Fr. Rodrigo Ortiz of Columbia brought her one long Fall day. She passed in God's Peace and Grace thankful to Fr. Patrick Okeke of Nigeria, who administered her Last Rites.)

Celia Correas de Zapata is survived, blessed, thanked, mourned and eternally admired by everyone named above as well as by the countless authors, colleagues, friends around the world who were also her family.

Isabel Allende's parting words in Spanish to her comadre Celia speak for everyone: Dejas un legado tremendo, primero como la matriarca de tu maravillosa familia... y después como una gran amiga y como la profesora que condujo a cientos de jóvenes en el camino sin retorno del amor a la literatura. Tu espíritu ya anda volando con los ángeles, pero tu recuerdo se queda con todos nosotros, los afortunados que fuimos tocados por tu varita mágica. Te quiero mucho, mucho… Isabel (August 24, 2022)

Prayers are welcome. Funeral at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Clovis, California, Wed. 8-31-22 at 10:00 am. Rosary at Whitehurst Chapel, Tu. 8-30-22 at 7:00 pm. Donations are welcome in Dr. Celia Zapata's name to the International Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva Association: IFOPA.org.