Funeral Arrangements for Wanda I. Tirado Announced

WATERBURY – Wanda I. Tirado age 38 of Waterbury, passed away on Wednesday morning at Danbury Hospital with her family by her side after a tragic boating accident on Tuesday afternoon.

Wanda was born on April 17, 1980 in Arecibo Puerto Rico the daughter of Manuel Tirado and Josefina Rodriguez of Waterbury. She came to the U.S. in 2000 with her degree in physical therapy, working initially at St Marys Hospital and then for several home health care agencies.

Her dream however was to be a teacher so she worked literally every day and studied, earning her teaching degree while being a mother and raising two wonderful daughters. Her daughters were the focus of her life. She had to work extremely hard, earn a degree and spend every waking hour she could with her daughters in order to give them the best quality of life possible. She always had the support of her parents and extended family but Wanda did what she had to in order to succeed.

Her dream came true in January of 2018 when she was hired as the Math & Science Teacher at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Waterbury and she was one of the first teachers selected to staff the new consolidated school, The Catholic Academy of Waterbury.

Wanda was known for her warm smile and the light she gave off to all those around her. As part of the faculty at St. Mary’s, she quickly became an integral part of the school. She loved her students, worked hard to help them achieve all of their potential and was always willing to help them, their families and colleagues. She will be greatly missed by all those who were blessed to have known and loved her.

Beside her parents she leaves her two daughters, Amanda and Daniella, her siblings; Manny Tirado and his wife, Leah of Waterbury, Hector Cajigas and his wife Sor of Puerto Rico, Helga Tirado and her husband Felix Feliciano of Waterbury, MaryAnn Smolly of FL, Robert Tirado and his wife, Maritza do FL, Gilbert Tirado of Waterbury, Luis Tirado of FL and Cecilia Tirado of Puerto Rico. She also leaves many nieces and nephews especially her nephew Josue Alicea, whom she raised as her own son, many Aunts, Uncles, cousins and many special friends.

Funeral services for Mrs. Tirado will be held on Monday June 25, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Casey’s Eastside Memorial Funeral Home, 1987 East Main St @ Southmayd Rd Waterbury. Burial will follow in New Pine Grove Cemetery, Waterbury. Relatives and friends may visit with Wanda’s family on Sunday, June 24, 2018 from 4:00 till 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mass will be offered in memory of Wanda at Saint Mary’s Hospital on Tuesday, June 26th in the hospital chapel at 11:45am, given by her dear friends in Quality.

In lieu of flowers, to honor Wanda’s memory donations to the “Amanda Martinez & Daniella Chalker- Tirado Education Fund” c/o Webster Bank 710 Wolcott Rd. Wolcott CT 06716 are encouraged. To extend online expressions of sympathy to the family or for additional information, kindly visit the funeral home website at:www.eastsidememorial.com. A GoFundMe account has been set up for the daughters of Mrs. Tirado.