I met Zakkyya in the Bronx at the point in her life when she was going to school for two master's degrees simultaneously, working a full-time job as a special educator, and a part-time job as a dance instructor. She liked keeping her plate full, and honestly, just looking at all she was able to do at one time exhausted me to the point that I needed to sit down for both her and me. But that was Zakkyya.

Some of my favorite things about Zakkyya:
* She loved to laugh. Even if the joke was horrible, she laughed loud and hard, and usually took a solid five minutes to calm down. I remember her telling me that she loved how it felt when she laughed, that she felt free.
* She had the silliest sense of humor. Occasionally, she would chant "lasagna, lasagna, lasagna!" at a random time, and when I stared at her in alarm, she would just fall out laughing.
* She could walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn, and she did it regularly. Talk about stamina! When she put her mind to it, Zakkyya could stick with a goal and achieve it ten times over.
* She didn't like for her friends to be sad or unhappy, and she did everything she could to lift the spirits of those she cared about. What more can you hope for in a friend, really?

Zakkyya passed away suddenly on December 4, 2015, at the age of 29. She was truly one of a kind, as people who have interacted with her can attest, and she leaves behind friends and family who deeply feel their loss. We are all lucky to have known her.

Please feel free to leave your memories, stories, and condolences below.

Flowers are also welcome and can be delivered to the funeral home on the date and time of memorial service.