Turlock man who died from coronavirus is described as devout Catholic, soccer fan
Jose Valencia is begging people to take COVID-19 seriously after his father died from the disease.
The coronavirus cut Turlock resident Pedro Zuniga’s life short at age 52, Valencia said, and prevented the family from holding his hand in his final moments.
“I hope people take this seriously,” Valencia said. “I was one of those that, you know, (thought) it doesn’t happen. It just happened to other people. And it happened to our family.”
Zuniga, who worked at a Safeway distribution center in Tracy where Gov. Gavin Newsom says 51 people had tested positive, is one of the four Stanislaus County residents who have died from coronavirus complications.
While the hospital kept the family informed of Zuniga’s condition, Valencia said they didn’t get to say goodbye in a final phone call before he died Monday night. Valencia lives in Georgia, so he wasn’t able to help his mother take his father to the hospital, either.
Valencia returned to Turlock, but was not able to see his father in the hospital. Safety protocols also barred Zuniga’s wife, other four children and three grandchildren from visiting.
The 32-year-old said Zuniga was both a devout Catholic who attended Sacred Heart in Turlock and a dedicated Mexican soccer fan who put Chivas team stickers on his truck. Zuniga also loved to cook, Valencia said, and sometimes set up a makeshift taco stand in front of the house.
The Turlock resident of 15 years previously lived in Atwater, Valencia said, and became a U.S. citizen decades ago after emigrating from Mexico.
Valencia declined to say where his father contracted COVID-19 for privacy reasons, but noted Zuniga was hospitalized a couple of days after he started showing symptoms. He did test positive, and died about a week after entering the hospital.
Safeway offers its condolences
When asked for comment on Zuniga’s death, a Safeway spokesperson gave condolences on behalf of the grocery store chain.
“We were saddened to learn that an associate at our Tracy Distribution Center has passed away due to complications related to COVID-19,” Safeway said in an emailed statement. “Our hearts are heavy, and our thoughts are with that associate’s family. This is difficult for the entire Safeway team.”
As a general safety measure, the statement said Safeway disinfects all locations that a worker who tests positive for COVID-19 may have touched. The company already cleans all departments and restrooms in its distribution centers throughout the day, the statement said.
Zuniga’s family is accepting funeral donations on GoFundMe. The family has been amazed at how people they don’t know have offered support, too.
“He was a well-loved man,” Valencia said. “They (the donors) have gone above and beyond. We are just very grateful with the help.”
The Rev. Patrick Walker, pastor at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Turlock, told The Modesto Bee that a parishioner died from the coronavirus and gave his condolences to the family.
“We pray for everyone affected by this terrible disease,” Walker said.
This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 2:55 PM.
