Obituary: Zeqir "Ziggy" Berisha of Waterbury

Chase Parkway Memorial / The Albini Family Funeral Home Facebook page post

As some may have heard, the City of Waterbury's devoted Zequir "Ziggy" Berisha, passed away on December 25, 2018.

For anyone wondering about the funeral services for Ziggy, you may read about them here, on Chase Parkway Memorial / The Albini Family Funeral Home 's website.
http://www.chaseparkwaymemorial.com/obituary/zeqir-berisha

For those who would like to stand and wave the American Flag, just as Ziggy faithfully did for so many years, during his funeral procession, this is the route we will be taking.

Ziggy's Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, December 31, 2018 at St. Francis Xavier Church.

The funeral procession leaving church will begin at roughly 10:30 a.m., Monday morning.
From St. Francis Xavier Church, 625 Baldwin Street, Waterbury, CT 06706.
- Down Baldwin Street, turn right on South Main Street.
- South Main Street, then turn left onto Grand Street
- Grand Street, then turn right onto Meadow Street
- Meadow Street, then turn right onto West Main Street
- West Main Street turns into East Main Street by the Green
- Follow East Main Street all the way to his final resting place at Calvary Cemetery, 2324 East Main Street

Thank you Ziggy, and may you rest in peace.

Obituary from Chase Parkway Memorial

Waterbury, CT -

Zeqir "Ziggy" Berisha

“Father and Patriot”

Mr. Zeqir “Ziggy” Berisha, 76, of Farrington Avenue in Waterbury, passed away Tuesday, December 25, 2018, after a long battle with heart disease.

Ziggy was born in a village in Sllovi, Kosovo, on April 24, 1942. His father, Nuh, was a farmer, and his mother, Adilia, died when he was three years old. At that time, Sllovi was under communist rule and in 1962, Ziggy fled and claimed asylum in Austria. He then traveled to Italy and from Rome, he legally entered the U.S. in 1969 through New York City. He immediately landed a job at Scovill Manufacturing in Waterbury.
Shortly thereafter he met the love of his life, Blanca Gutierrez (from Colombia) at an evening English class for immigrants at the old Crosby High School in downtown Waterbury. They were married for 45 years until her death in 2015. They had five boys from 1970 to 1977. Ziggy spent most of the 70's and 80's as a self-employed laborer and construction worker for local #390. He was best known as the “Flagman” for his red, white, and blue outfits, his energetic patriotism and love of freedom across parks, events and busy intersections throughout Waterbury. He will be fondly remembered for his love of veterans, Holy Land, community service, and the flag.

Ziggy was predeceased by his son, Jeffrey Berisha on February 2, 2008, and his wife Blanca. He leaves four sons in the U.S., Abdullah Berisha and his wife Tina of North Carolina, Ali Berisha of Washington D.C., Alexander Berisha and Richard Berisha both of Waterbury, a son in Austria, a half-brother in Kosovo, four grandchildren in the U.S., Ayden, Adyson, and Aryana of North Carolina and Bianca of Waterbury, and several uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, and nephews and distant relatives in Kosovo.

Arrangements: Funeral will be held Monday, December 31, 2018, 8:00 a.m. from Chase Parkway Memorial/The Albini Family Funeral Home, 430 Chase Parkway, Waterbury to St. Francis Xavier Church, 625 Baldwin Street, Waterbury, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Calling hours will be held Sunday from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Photo of "Ziggy" marching in the Naugatuck Memorial Day Parade by Nancy Sasso Janis