Emma Josefina Bocanegra's Obituary
Emma Josefina Zavala De Bocanegra was born on August 21, 1953, in Lima, Peru. She was the oldest of three children and the only daughter, with two younger brothers, Santiago and Gustavo. From a very young age, her life was shaped by responsibility, hard work, and devotion to her family.
As the older sister, she was always there to help care for her younger brothers and to support her mother and father. She spent her childhood helping her parents provide for the household, learning early the values of discipline, sacrifice, and perseverance.
Her mother, Emma, was a hardworking and disciplined woman—a business owner who supported her family through dedication and perseverance. Jossy inherited deep determination and inner strength. She pursued her accounting Bachelors degree in Inka Garcilazo de la Vega University in Lima, Peru.
She married her childhood sweetheart, Ciro Bocanegra, the love of her life. Together they built a home grounded in love, commitment, and shared dreams. In 1977, they were preparing to welcome their first child Emma. The same year, tragedy struck. Jossy lost her beloved mother. Jossy and Ciro were blessed with three daughters, Emma, Elena and Nathaly who became the center of her world. She loved deeply and selflessly and was truly the heart of her family.
Their lives were inspired by the spiritual practice of Mahikari. Alongside these blessings came unimaginable heartbreak. Mami Jossy endured the loss of two sons. Her first son, Dany Jesús, was lost at four months due to miscarriage. Her second son, Dante, lived only one precious month. She grieved deeply, as only a mother can, yet she carried her sons forever in her heart while continuing to care for the family entrusted to her.
In addition to raising her children, Mami Jossy built a career as an air traffic controller at the Jorge Chavez Airport—a demanding, highly technical, and stressful profession with immense responsibility. Later, life opened a new chapter for the Bocanegra family. Ciro’s Air Force career advanced, and he was selected for a special assignment in the United States as part of the Peruvian Consulate in Miami. The family moved to the United States, embracing both change and opportunity.
Emma and Elena began their young adult lives in America, while Nathaly started school in Miami at an early age. After one year, the family faced a new challenge. After Ciro’s retirement, he reunited with his family in Fort Lauderdale. In November 2012, they decided to move into a new home in Atlanta and welcomed the entire family. Mami Jossy's loving heart created a new nest, caring for her family in Atlanta while also traveling to visit her youngest daughter, Nathaly, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In June 2014, Jossy suffered her first stroke while visiting Nathaly. Through strength and determination, she recovered and returned home—once again resuming her role as the heart of the family. As the years passed and her health gradually declined, Mami Jossy continued to give herself quietly and faithfully.
Her devoted husband, Ciro, and her three daughters cared for her with love, patience, and dignity until the very end of her life. She was surrounded by the same devotion she had given so freely to others.
This was Mami Jossy’s life. This was who she was. And this is how she will remain with us—forever carried in our hearts as a sweet, caring and wonderful mother.
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