An ‘amazing human’
Blaz, brethren honor slain FDNY medic Arroyo at wake
AN ENDLESS procession of first responders were joined by Mayor de Blasio in filing past the casket of murdered Bronx EMT Yadira Arroyo at a crowded wake Friday.
Colleagues like Melissa Irizarry mingled with medics, firefighters, cops and total strangers at the second session of a two-day sendoff for the 44-yearold mother of five.
De Blasio arrived at around 7:30 p.m., shared a hug with FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro — and headed inside to meet with the lifesaver’s mourning family.
He left without speaking to the media, though others were happy to offer their recollections of Arroyo.
“She was always positive, she loved salsa, she made working overtime not working overtime,” recalled Irizarry, 36. “She made it fun. She was an amazing human being inside and out. There was never a dull moment.”
Large, elaborate floral arrangements lined the walls of the viewing room at the Joseph A. Lucchese Funeral Home, as well as the hallways and first-floor landing.
Arroyo’s funeral Saturday is expected to draw 10,000 mourners to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church on University Ave. in the Bronx. EMTs from across the region and the country are due to join her New York coworkers for an emotional farewell.
The 14-year FDNY veteran died last week beneath the wheels of her ambulance when a schizophrenic career criminal tried to steal the vehicle — and instead ran her down. “Yadi will always be with us,” said Lt. Miguel Flores, her old supervisor. “It is beautiful, it is amazing to see the support we’re getting worldwide.
“She could walk into any scene, no matter how hostile. And her smile, her way of talking, her character...”