Zoila Piedad Poon was born on January 7th, 1957 in Guayaquil, a beautiful coastal city of Ecuador. She is the eldest of four daughters born to Manuel and Maria Balladares. At the age of 14, Zoila, her three sisters, and mother, Maria emigrated to the United States, where Manuel had established a home for them in Tustin, California. Zoila attended Tustin High School with her twin sister Maria, where she graduated one year early in 1975.
Zoila continued her education at Saddleback College for two years before transferring to Cal Poly Pomona, where she graduated with a degree in Drafting Engineering. After graduating, she settled in Chino Hills with her former husband.
Zoila began her career at Ricoh Electronics where she worked for 27 years as a packaging drafting engineer. In the past few years, Zoila also worked part time for H&R Block. She was well liked by her peers and made several lifelong friendships along the way. Zoila was known as a generous friend, who extended her helping hand, time, and talents in any way her friends needed.
Aside from her work, Zoila enjoyed traveling with friends and family. She made several trips back to Ecuador with her parents visiting extended family. Zoila’s adventurous spirit also took her across the U.S., Asia, Europe, and South America.
Although she did not have kids of her own, Zoila cared for her nieces and nephews as if they were her children. Like any parent, she could be counted on to celebrate their milestone events, give generous gifts, provide sound advice, and pick up the phone when called in a crisis.
Zoila lived an active life until she fell ill in 2017, during which she was supported with the love of her sisters Maria, Diana, and Sara as well as her network of family and friends. She fought to the very end, with every willingness to overcome her serious condition.
Zoila passed peacefully in the presence of her family on June 18th, 2018. She is now reunited with her father, Manuel, and her sister, Sara and is survived by her mother, Maria Balladares, her twin sister, Maria Bougrab, and youngest sister, Diana Larrabee.
Zoila will be terribly missed by her family and friends and remembered for her bold spirit, honesty, character, and compassionate heart.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIOCOMPARTA
v.1.12.1