Juana Amaya

It is with great sadness in our hearts that we say goodbye to one of the greatest persons we've ever known. Juana Amaya, 73, passed away on September 5th 2022, after courageously fighting lung cancer for 10 months. Her funeral service will be held on September 10th 2022.

Being one of 13 children, Juanita was born on Nov 12, 1949 in Juacaran, El Salvador to Santos Amaya and Leocadia Ramirez. After the passing of her mother at a young age she took on to care for her younger sisters. This experience allowed her to land a career as a nursemaid for many years, with a respected family that would eventually become dear friends. As a nursemaid Juanita was able to travel and live in many countries including The USA, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela. She was so full of curiosity and adventure, she immersed herself completely in the culture of each country she visited and immediately was welcomed by the locals. After many years she returned to her home country where she gave birth to her first daughter, followed by her second child 9 years later.

As times became tough in El Salvador she looked for other ways to provide for her family. With solid goals in mind and a heart full of hope for a brighter future for her and her children, in 1987 she crossed the border to the USA. Leaving her two children behind in the care of family and friends was a sacrifice she had to make to achieve her goals. With her knowledge of other cultures she immediately adapted, made friends, and found a job. She worked hard and long hours focused on providing for her children and helping the family she left back home. During the following years she had a third child and with all her sacrifice by 1993, the family was made whole again in New York City, where they live happily together striving to be the best they can be.

 With a passion for caring for people, Juanita made friends anywhere she went. She loved to talk and laugh. Communication came easy to her, whether it was the guy at the corner of 164th and Jamaica asking for a quarter at 5am or the CEO of the Dry Cleaner she worked for. She was a beam of life that people gravitated towards. Not only because she was always her honest, caring and loyal self who would give the shirt off her back if she could, but also her contagious laugh that would light a house with laughter and bring joy to those around her. With her children by her side she continued to work hard to provide the best of the best for her children while still financially helping family back home, and assisting many other family and friends take the journey to the USA.

In 2014, Juanita received one of the greatest news ever. She was to become a grandmother. Without a second thought she packed her bags and moved to Las Vegas to check off another goal, build a life around her greatest joys, grandchildren. She cared and loved her two grandkids, Logan and Austin or as she would called them, mi Gatito and mi Ratoncito. She grew up surrounded by loved ones, at a young age she learned to love and care for others and even in her last days she was making sure that everyone was cared for. Her generosity, loyalty, honesty, her care and love will live on through those lives she touched and those loved ones she leaves behind.

Juana Amaya is survived by her oldest Sandra Duran, her son Eli Martinez, and youngest Karen Sypraseouth along with her two grandchildren Logan and Austin Sypraseouth