Jairo Arias

Jairo Arias, 86 years of age, passed away on October 13, 2023 in Houston, Texas surrounded by his family.    Jairo was born on November 29, 1936 in Montenegro, Colombia to Carlos and Analia Arias.  Jairo was preceded in death by his parents Carlos and Analia Arias.   His son Carlos A. Arias, who was in the US Air Force, passed away in 1982.

Jairo is survived by his loving wife Zuleya Arias of 64 beautiful years.    His daughter Patricia Arias and his grandchildren Andres, and Alexa, and his great-grandson Grayson.

Jairo was a gifted soccer player, the family has shared beautiful memories listed below.   

A church mass will be held Friday, October 20, 2023 at 7:00 PM at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church   5356 11th St., Katy, Tx   77493. 

Unity Funeral Home gives the family our deepest condolences at this difficult time. 

From the Family:

Zuleya Arias (Wife)

No tengo palabras para describir el dolor que siento al perder el mejor esposo y con el cual comparti 64 años de mi vida y siempre me senti muy orgullosa de él por su honestidad, sencillez y calidad humana.  También me siento muy afortunada y bendecida de que mis hijos, nietos y bisnieto tuvieran un padre, abuelo y bisabuela maravilloso y el mejor ejemplo de ser humano. 

Siempre estarás en mi corazón y en mis pensamientos para toda la vida.  

Con todo mi corazón, 

Zuleya

From Andres (Grandson)

On October 13, a piece of me was taken.  As most know, my grandfather took on a role of being my real father from the day I was born.  I couldn’t ask for a better grandfather and father.   He was the most kind, humble and the funniest person I have ever known.   I never saw him mad and would always crack jokes.  He could never finish his jokes without laughing.  He as the spark to the family and always made sure we were taken care of.  Lito, I love you, I always will.   Please continue to look over us and I will try my best to be as good of a father as you were to me. You are the best role model for all of us.

This is just a good-bye for now, may you rest and play soccer in peace.  I love you forever!!

Andresito

From Patricia (Daughter)

Papi, I don’t know where to begin to let you know that you will always live in my heart and I will always love and miss you.   Part of me has gone with you.  

You were a star from the moment you were born 86 years ago.  You became the rock for your family in Colombia working from the age of 12 to help my grandfather with his shoemaking business, making cleats for soccer teams.  You never asked for anything, only a soccer ball.   You were destined to become the youngest player to represent Colombia’s greatest teams with honor and pride and went on to play in the 1962 World Cup with Chile.  Papi you were asked to come to the US in 1965 to play with an Italian team but had to leave behind my mom, my brother and I for one year.  You sacrificed everything you had in Colombia to provide the American dream.  You also made a promise to my mother that if you had to work two jobs, you would and we would never lack anything.   Thank you daddy for fulfilling your promise with your hard work, always making your family your priority without asking for anything in return.  You are the best father, grandfather, husband and friend that ever existed.  Your kindness, compassion, gentle and loving heart has blessed all whose life you touched.   Thank you for the laughs with your sense of humor and infectious laughter that made us all laugh until our bellies ached. 

Papi, you are in my heart, and I will always love and miss you. You brought so much joy to our family, more than you'll ever know. I salute you; I honor you for an infinite number of reasons, I celebrate you, and I thank you for so much more than I can express with these words. My gratitude to you is endless. You live in my heart forever.

From Alexa (Granddaughter)

When I think of my grandfather, I think of humility, honor, sacrifice, honesty, selflessness, compassion and truly just someone whom everyone adored.

He was the glue who kept our family together. He never saw a difference between being a biologically related person or someone who he met after emigrating from Colombia. His happiness was equivalent to seeing others happy...

A couple of common themes that resonate with me to this day:

My grandfather was all about equality – if I got something, then of course Andres was next in line to get them.

My grandfather was our best wing man – my grandmother always wanted to ensure that we didn’t get full with “antojos aka cravings,”  before dinner, so my grandfather being the mischievous kid at heart, would hide our treats and we’d take turn taking sips

My grandfather’s sense of humor- if laughing at your own jokes before you’re even finished telling the joke was a profession, my grandfather would be the CEO. His laugh was infectious and contagious.

My grandfather was a man of his word and merit – I remember normalizing having a tab with the Ice-cream man truck and on every Friday, my grandpa would settle the tab. Everyone trusted him and if he said something, you could always count on it.

My grandfather was a man who would put others, especially his family and loved ones before himself -  he would always say “nina, siempres puedes contar conmigo” aka you can always count on me.

My grandfather was a magnet for positivity and effortless love- from babies to animals to anyone!!! Every living being was always irrevocably drawn to his positive energy.

My grandfather was the most loyal person and I am sure others can agree. He only had loving eyes for my grandmother and always emanated that loyalty in different ways to all of our loved ones.

·        My grandfather was a role model – He didn’t believe in gossip and he avoided confrontation-his goal was always to spread peace and empathy.

·        He was a father and grandfather to both my brother and I, the best father to my mother and uncle (RIP), and best husband to my grandmother.

My grandfather was a jokester and prankster – his humor kept our spirits uplifted and his ability to illuminate a room just with his “chistes aka jokes” made his positive energy that more impactful.

All in all, coming just from me, the granddaughter, Alexa, his interpretive dancer, his best futbol (soccer)/tennis watching buddy, his nap accomplice and the list goes on…. I am so eternally grateful to have shared almost 32 years of life with someone who truly understood me, who always had my back, who defended me while I was being judged, who supported me in my academia endeavors, who always worried if I had cash or money to eat because in his mind, we’re all still his little ones. I lost a part of my being on 13th October 2023, but I know I gained angel who will forever continue to look after us.

Lito, Te Amo con todo mi Corazon!

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