BENTON — Our mother and Grana, Nenita “Nitz” Zafe Haas,
aged 70, peacefully passed away on October 10, 2022. Beautifully closing the circle of her life, Nenita died in her birthplace of Virac, Catanduanes, Philippines (PH), surrounded by her loving family. Her memory will live on in her daughter Misty Dawn Crouch (Jared) of Austin, Texas; son Alvin-Bailon Haas (Charlie) of Paron, Ark.; daughter RoseHelen Giambalvo (Jason Moix) of Little Rock, Ark.; her beloved grandchildren Edwynn, Elina, Solomon, Kennedy, and Cash; and her siblings Salome DeLeon of Los Angeles, Calif.; Aida Aguilar of Virac, PH; Bailon Zafe, Jr. of Virac, PH; Armando Zafe of Manila, PH; Domingo Zafe of Manila, PH; Sister Melba
Zafe of Virac, PH; Raul Zafe of Bato, PH; Romeo Zafe of Manila, PH; and Dr. Santos Zafe of Virac, PH. Nenita was preceded in death by her husband, William “Bill” Haas, parents, Bailon and Rosario (Vargas) Zafe, and sisters Eufemia and Maria.
Born September 3, 1952, in Buyo, Virac, the capital of Catanduanes, known as the Happy Island in the Philippines, Nenita was the sixth of 12 children. She graduated from Catanduanes National High School in 1969 and completed her nursing degree in Manila at University of the East in 1975. Nenita immediately moved to the United States to practice nursing and worked in the Baptist Health organization for over 38 years. While working for Baptist, Nenita’s beautiful smile caught the attention of nursing student Bill Haas. The two were married on July 15, 1978, and remained deeply devoted to each other until they were parted by Bill’s death in October 2021.
Because of her love for Jesus, Nenita’s tenacious work ethic was balanced by generosity and compassion. Though an ocean away, she remained bound by love to her family and community in the Philippines. She helped pay for her siblings’ college expenses, donated to improve the schools and utilities in her hometown, and frequently visited to offer medical assistance in local health clinics. Nenita’s generosity had no strings attached and seemed to know no limit. Once, while traveling, Nenita even gave all the clothes she had with her to a woman in a difficult situation, preferring to go home with an empty suitcase instead of leaving a need unmet.
In her work and at home, Nenita was a caretaker and an advocate. She spent her career as a rehab nurse encouraging survivors of traumatic brain and spine injuries, instilling hope and confidence in them as they worked toward returning to life at home. She also loved caring for her chickens and her dog Gypsy, and her children knew that if they ever felt discouraged, their mother would be ready to believe the best of them and champion them onward. Though she spent much of her time working and serving, she occasionally took time to enjoy a bit of fun. She appreciated a good joke, and she especially loved to sing and dance.
Nenita’s joy and generosity were rooted in the firm beliefs that God’s resources were abundant enough to be shared freely, and that gratitude was the only viable response to God’s gift of life. Her presence on this earth will be sorely missed, but her legacy of gratitude and kindness will continue in the lives of those she touched with the love of Jesus and the hope of the Gospel.
A memorial service will be held on November 19, at 10 a.m., at Ashby Funeral Home in Benton, Ark. Visitation immediately following the service.
Online guestbook at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com