Nicholas Zavala Obituary

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

I sure do miss you Nick. It's great to know that you are in God's hands!
Love, your Mom in VA.
Thank you Many for posting all of the great pictures! I loved them all

Oh how I miss you Nick, it's been 14 years and there's not a day goes by that you're not on my mind. Love you kisses always mom

Nick on vacation in Australia years ago.

A variety of pictures of Nick throughout the years that I want to share to those who cared for Nick.

Here are pictures of my son's funeral service in Arlington. Nick was on the Enterprise for a while when he first went in the Navy, so I added pictures of the aircraft carrier Enterprise model in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

I just wanted to share this letter that Nicholas's close friend wrote years ago.

You are always in my thoughts! You would never believe how crazy our world has been. I find peace that you are in heaven with our heavenly father. Until we meet again.
Love, your Mom in VA

Nick I think of you every single day I miss you so much, I miss that beautiful smile I look at it every morning and every night and in between I see you smiling at me all the time my heart hurts and I just want you to come home love you to the Moon and back Mom

Nick, I think about you all the time! I hop you are smiling thar big beautiful smile in heaven! Love your mom in VA

I was at Arlington last weekend and stopped to visit Nick. We were stationed together in 2005 to 2007. I know if I made Chief Nick would have to .I left him one of my Anchors and a piece os sea glass from Guam. Still miss you Brother.

Dearest Family of Nick's,
We love you and think of you eveyday.
We miss Nick but know he is in the arms of Jesus and loving you from there.

Nick,

You may be gone however you will never be forgotten. There is not a day that I do not think of you! I have a memorial in the house and outside, Today has been hard, I miss you so much. I try to think of those Breakfast you use to make for me and all the fun we use to have. I Love you

Love and Kisses
Mom

It's been one year today. Miss and love you. Gramma E.

Just wanted to give my new email address to Nicks friends, so they could continue contacting me. its [email protected]
Nick I will be comming to visit you in april to see your grave site and to bring you flowers I love you baby can not believe its almost been a year Your brothers and me miss you very much, Ilove you and hope your resting piece. Your friends all miss you to
We Love you, and We are so proud of you

Love ya,
Mom

Hey Nick! :) I was dreaming of you all last night! I miss you tons!! I never wanted a tattoo before, but in honor of you I got a Superman emblem on my left wrist! :) But instead of an S, I got an N!!! Wish you were here to see it! I love you Nick... Visit me sometime! Please! Love, Tabatha

Nick here it is February and I am still going through alot missing you and asking why my son I love you sweetheart and I miss you so much seems just the other day you brought me pearls I will never forget your suprises for me and those many breakfasts you tried to make for me. Oh dear son I miss you so much and just cant get past this heart break I have with out you in my life

I Love you darling
mom

I love and miss you so much Nick!

My loving son...
After six months of being off of work and being in constant pain of the devastating loss of you, I finally had my closure when I laid you to rest in Arlington, Va. After seeing the beauty of Arlington, placing you in the best kept cemetary in the country and having you placed amongst your comrades, I knew you would be well taken care of. Sitting next to me on the flight to Arlington, I met a man named Kenny who works as the computer technician at Arlington National Cemetary. We instantly became friends and he honored me with his presence at your service that morning. He told me that the Army gets paid $200,000 a year, just for the alignment of all the headstones there. I know that as long as we live in the United States of America, you will always be taken care of. I have also made new arrangements that when I pass, I will be next to you in Arlington, forever. I have made a memorial wall for you in the family room, which turned out great!!! I love you with all my being and you will always be in my heart. Your proud father...

It's hard to remember to celebrate Nick's life, when our grief and sorrow is so profound.

It helps to know others share our loss and remember Nick. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and sharing this with us.

Nick, your Uncle Mike has come to join you. As you look down on your family please know we miss and love you both. Gramma E.

Hello to Nicholas, family and friends. Myself, Matthew Fisher, and James Daniels visited Arlington National Cemetery this past week for the first time as tourists to our Nation's Capital. As we walked through Arlington we came across recently placed headstones. Of the countless we saw, we tried to remember one name to help us not forget the many and it was Nicholas Zavala we chose. Your age and having been in the Navy are similar to James' dream; we paused to understand why you were taken so young. We both want you to know that although we know nothing about you, you gave us meaning and a reason to strive to do better and great things in our lives. We only hope we can have so beautiful of an eternity by being remembered as I see others here remembering you.

Nick, I am so thankful to have had you in my life. You will always be the child of my heart.

May the LORD bless you and take care of you.
May the LORD be kind and gracious to you.
May the LORD look on you with favor and give you peace.

Nick, I'm so gratefull that you are at your final resting place. May God bless you and keep you safe in his arms forever! I miss you so much, you will never know how much.

Love, Your Mom in VA

My thoughts will be with our family during this time. Much love to everyone.. especially your mom and your dad, my brother.

God bless and keep you Nick We all love you/\. Gramma E. and Uncle Mike

As I have told everyone who has contacted me in regards to Nicks funeral. He is being buried at Arlington Cemetary on September 2 at 9:00

Thank you
Kelly Stripling (Nicks Mom)

It was an honor and a pleasure being able to serve along side you in GTMO Nick. You were a great Sailor and an even better friend. May you rest in peace.

Nick will always be remembered on Guam as one of our extended family member. The short time that we were blessed to be a part of his life was filled with laughter, bonding, and love. One of my most fond memory with Nick was when he spent time with us at a family gathering and he walked along the beach to find a coconut tree to prove that he could climb and pick a coconut in the same manner as the men did. Not only did he pick the coconut, but he had the scrapings on his belly from sliding down the tree to prove it... he was so proud that he took the coconut home, we thought he was so funny. We thought of him for many years since he left, because he built many fond memories with us, from family gatherings, village fiestas, and small game card playing with us and especially our mother who thought of him as a son and my father who has since passed while they were here, wanted Nick to have his valued machete that Nick accepted with honor because my father enjoyed his company as well. We are still in shock with this news and are sorry for your family's loss. But do know that he was a blessing to us here on Guam. We miss him dearly and will continue to pray for him and your family.

Word came to me w/ the news of Nick's passing. Only God knew that since he was born, that he would be sent to Guam, an island way out in the pacific, half way around the world, on yet another mission, a spiritual one. A few years ago, Nick gave selflessly to the needs of the children of the parish of San Vicente / San Roke Catholic Church on Guam by taking on the roll of one of the 3 Kings in the 3 Kings Pageant Play ... for those of you who are curious :) he played the brown king ! He was fantastic ! He even told us he would do it again if the Navy extended his tour. Nick had a special calling with children and i believe he would have had a life-time job w/the Church playing this roll.He was placed in this event of our lives for a reason in which we will be eternally grateful. Our condolences go out to his family and to all who loved him in this life.

Nick was a wonderful person. His humor was delightful and his smile a treasure. My family and I are honored to have known him. In Guam he spent several occassions with my family. He spent so much time with us that my sisters and I have aknowledged him as our brother and my mom has aknowledged him as her son. Because he was great with my family I made his birthday on Guam a little special. I had a banner made for him that read "Happy Birthday Superman". I will never forget the HUGE smile he had that day. My family is still in shock of this news. To Nicks family: He is a special person that will be greatly missed and our prayers will continue for him.

Nick, you were truly amazing and I hope you know how much you touched everyone and the amazing impact you had on so many peoples lives... We love and miss you more then words can describe... Sleep well and know how much love everyone still has and how much we still hold you near and dear to our hearts... We Love You Nick.... Im so thankful you were apart of my life...

Nick, you are truly a "blessing" from God! I feel so honored to be called your mom in Virginia! You have touched so many people with your compassion, loving friendship, and the ability to make someone smile! You have a smile that lights up any room that you are in. You were always available for anyone that needed you. You are missed and loved by so many people. May god bless you always!
Love,
Your mom in Virginia
We'll be in Arlington when you arrive

Happy Birthday Nick... Why did this have to happen man.. I think about you everyday.. I recently got a job on Fort Irwin..it just brings back so many memories.. From high school (u remember those long rides everyday..man that was the worst ughh ha).. playn football..(even tho we lost every game.. it sure was fun tho..!) remember hiking all those mountains that day...(what were we thinkn..I remember it was so hot that day..and we didn't bring any water.. Ha) or walkn to the px or commisary just to get away for awhile... I wish u were still here..I love and miss u brother.. You will ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED NICK..! RIP

Well Nick I didnt have any where to send you a Birthday card I just mailed one to Heaven I sure do Miss you Happy Birthday son I Love and miss you so very much. I have talked to so many of your friends and they all miss you to.

Love and Kisses
Mom chad & Adam


Kelly Stripling 1137 SE 709th st Old Town Florida 32680
352-542-2771
[email protected]

I remember nick from school, body builder, loved country music and very funny! May God be with all of you and give you comfort and peace in this time of Grief in Jesus name!

Nick was such a happy guy. You could never forget that smile!!! It was always so big and bright. He was a stand-up guy and always tried to do what was right. My condolences go out to his family!!! Sorry for your loss, it's a big one. RIP Nick , you are and will always be missed

Nick, was my highschool sweetheart. We were young when I met, but he really knew how to make you forget any problems and always made everyone smile.. We had dreams of how our future would be together, and that then laughed at it, because nothing worked out like we wanted them too... He will always be so very special in my heart, and I will forever miss him... My prayers are with his family, who I knew he loved so much.. God Bless, Sleep well Nicholas Eric Zavala your missed and loved so much...

He was truely the superman of our school. I remember I had so much respect for him when I was still in Middle School. He was a person I looked up too and always had a good attitude. Thank you Zack for the memories and you will be missed.

I am so sorry to hear of Nick's passing. Your family is in my prayers. Nick was a wonderful person!

I am so sorry to hear of Nick's passing, I went to school with him and we cheered together! He was a great cheerleader! We had a lot of fun cheering together and going to camp and doing all that fun stuff...My prayers go out to his family and friends...God Bless

Kelly and family,
I am still in shock over your loss, as I am sure you are too. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the sacrifice you all have made for our freedom. Words can't express the sorrow that I feel for you.

I am sure you are all very proud of Nick and you should be. My heart goes out to you all....

I am so sorry........

To the Zavala family, you son was a great person, loyal friend and a brother to his shipmates. There was no adventure Nick wasn't ready to undertake and a true pleasure to those that new him and worked with him.

Nick I will truly miss you buddy

When I first met Nick we served together at GTMO. He was a very energetic and had a good sense of humor, when times I was down he brought laughter. When my mother was very ill he was by my side and was there to help when I needed it. My friend you will be missed and my prayers are with your family. Camp four family will always remember you may God bless your soul. AO1

I knew Nick when he lived at Ft. Irwin years ago. Even back then, he was always the most dynamic person in the room. He had a smile for everyone and somehow always made my day a little bit brighter.

Nick, from the nights at youth group, trips to Magic Mountain, and just hanging out in the living room playing video games, I will never forget our friendship. I refuse to be sad because I know you're safe with God. Every once in awhile, when Michigan's skies get as blue as they were back in the desert, I can almost see you and that beautiful smile of yours, telling us not to worry about you. I will love you always.
Love, Cortney

I love you so much Nick!!!!! Thank you tremendously for everything you have done for our family! Your friendship has been so important to me, and I miss you so much! I can't even express to you how wonderful it was knowing you and calling you one of my truest best friends! You are an amazing man, and I have been proud of you from the beginning. God blessed us when we met you, and I know he will take care of you now! Love, Tabatha
GO GATORS!!!!!!

To Kelly and Barbara Bradfield, thank you for keeping this website online. It is a comfort to read the entries from the people whose lives were touched by Nick. Somehow it helps carry the burden.