‘Lost a sister’
Inspirational EMT hailed by co-workers at wake
EMT DAVID CADOGAN, one of hundreds mourning colleague Yadira Arroyo at her Bronx wake, remembered their final conversation just hours before she was killed.
“We talked about our kids,” he recalled Thursday at the Joseph A. Lucchese Funeral Home in the Bronx. “I said ‘Bye,’ not knowing that was going to be the last time.
“A lot of us are having a hard time pulling it together.”
Arroyo, the 44-year-old mother of five sons, died March 16 when a deranged man trying to steal her FDNY ambulance ran her down with the lifesaving vehicle.
Her sons were at the funeral home Thursday offering hugs to the multitude of mourners, including ex-FDNY Commissioner Salvatore Cassano and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. — who shared an embrace outside the home.
“The Bronx is praying,” Diaz said. “There’s really a show of support for someone who was truly a hero.”
Current FDNY head Daniel Nigro said the huge turnout was typical of a department known for taking care of its own.
“We are one large, loving family supporting her large, loving family,” Nigro said. “She certainly lived like a hero, and died like a hero for the city.”
FDNY EMT Omar Quinones, 36, said he first met Arroyo on the job 13 years ago.
“She was beautiful person — kind, gentle, friendly, strong, everything,” said an emotional Quinones.
“It’s sad. We’re all here because we lost a sister. It’s always hard to say goodbye. You never forget.”
The Bronx wake was slated to continue Friday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., with an 11 a.m. funeral to follow Saturday at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church, 2345 University Ave. in the Bronx.
Accused murderer Jose Gonzalez remained locked up without bail. Relatives said he is a schizophrenic who often refused to take his meds, and Gonzalez had a rap sheet with 31 arrests.
Bronx resident Gloria Diaz, 50, was among the many who never knew Arroyo yet felt compelled to attend the wake.
“She was a mother like me,” Diaz said. “It’s heartbreaking. She was really an inspiration to the community and the city. She was a hero.
“I’m leaving here feeling sad and feeling angry,” she continued. “This man left five beautiful children without a mother. He deserves the death penalty.”