Alfonso Eugenio Chia, Sr.

On March 4th, 2021, Alfonso Eugenio Chia Sr., a loving husband, father, and friend passed away at home in North Bergen, NJ at the age of 77.

Alfonso was born February 21st, 1944 to Sara Cespedes Jaramillo and Eugenio Chia Virnes in Surquillo District, Lima, Peru. He was the fourth eldest of eight children and very much loved. In 1962 he graduated from Alfonso Ugarte High School where he participated as a runner for the varsity track team. Soon after he began working at the Inca Kola of Peru as a distributor, lasting nine long years, enough to save up every Peruvian sol possible.

By 1971 Alfonso had saved enough soles to travel to the United States. He decided to begin a new life and moved to Paterson, New Jersey. Shortly after arriving and stabilizing he began working as a machine operator at a fabric and textile manufacturing company. Not long after, Alfonso was introduced to the one who became the love of his life and mother to their kids, Norma by their mutual friend Manuel.

Following their meet, Alfonso and Norma began to date and after months of pursuit Norma finally accepted him as her partner, years later as her husband, and father to their kids. Their story was no ordinary love story, although they loved one another they decided to wait for marriage but continued to build a family. They decided to wed in 1983, meanwhile raising together Yanira, Jose and Alfi.

He cared and provided for his family. Doing so, Alfonso worked many different jobs that would allow him to put a roof over their heads and food on the table. He began working at as a trucker for companies such as Bassett in Hoboken, later working at Toyota, and then at Crest again as a machine operator all within the years of 1977 to 1998. In between working and always saving, he was able to purchase a thirteen-family building in 1976 on Hoboken Avenue in Jersey City. Alfonso was able to provide for his wife and children as well as help his friends and families in need. He decided to take a break from work and retired in 1998 allowing him to spend more time with his family. However, boredom did strike in after eight years and in 2006 he began to work at the Ogden Memorial Presbyterian Church in Chatham, NJ where he was adored by many until retiring again in 2019.

Being a catholic man, every year in October from 1980 – 1988 he carried the Señor de los Milagros (Lord of Miracles) in New York City for the San Benito Church. The Señor de los Milagros is an image painted of Jesus Christ that is venerated in Lima, Peru. This procession is one of the oldest Catholic traditions in Peru which Alfonso continued to follow and till this day carries a pendant in his car and home.

He was a man of many interest and hobbies. A pet peeve of his was having to call someone to come and fix anything, so he decided to take care of things on his own every time. He became the plumber, the mechanic, and the handy man at home. Alfonso loved to listen to a good salsa clasica for hours in a day, he would then switch it up to baladas romantica or even musica criolla. He enjoyed the days he could sit back and enjoy a nice cold Heineken beer when he did not have a little Gin for his tonic with a splash of OJ. But there was nothing more phenomenal to him than Norma’s arroz blanco y frejoles con seco on a good day watching his favorite soccer team Sport Boys Association (SBA) from Callao. He had a passion for cars, and he was fascinated with his favorite 1978 Buick Riviera, beige with brown interior. There was no eating in his car, no slamming of doors and you just had to get in and buckle up.

Although he was very stubborn and hardheaded at times, he was also a hard worker, a great teacher, and a man of many traits to his son Jose. His passion for music and cars will live on with his youngest son Alfi. He will always be the hero from beginning to end to his daughter Yanira and continue to be adored everyday by his granddaughters Samantha and Olivia. He was not only a great man that took care of his family, but he loved his wife Norma with all of his being, and she loved him just as much in return for all that he did in their fifty years together.  He will be greatly missed but never forgotten as he holds a special place in each one of their hearts.

Alfonso is survived by his amazing and loving family –

Wife: Norma Perez de Chia

Children: Yanira Sanchez, Jose, Carolina and Alfi Chia

Grandchildren: Jose Jr., Isaiah, Elijah, Fabian and Julian Chia along with Samantha and Oliva Sanchez

Great Grandchildren: Cerenity Lynn Chia

Alfonso was preceded in death by his sister Maria Ramirez and the remaining siblings Hernan Soto, Pablo Chia, Hugo Chia, Doris Chia de Castro, Hilda Chia de Revelo, Jaime Chia.

He also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews and loved ones to cherish his memories.

Viewing is on Thursday, March 11, 2021, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at RIOTTO FUNERLA HOME, 3205 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07306 (For GPS Navigation it is best to use our parking lot entrance address: 14 Stagg St., Jersey City.)  Funeral Mass is on Friday, March 12, 2021, 10:00 AM at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 615 8th St., Union City, NJ 07087.  Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington