Deacon Jose Simon Chirinos' Obituary
Deacon José Simón “Pepe” Chirinos, a humble and joyful servant of servants, died of a sudden heart attack, on Jan. 3, while vacationing, with his wife, in his native Arequipa, Peru. He was 74.
Born into a Catholic family of 17 children, he was the 13th child. Upon their parents’ death, he and the younger children were reared by two older sisters, Mamá Nelly and Mamá Edith.
He began college in Arequipa, at Universidad Santa María, and graduated in Miami, at St. Thomas University, in 1976, later on earning a master’s in internacional business administration at Nova Southeastern University.
For 39 years, he worked at Crowley, a logistics/shipping company, becoming International Sales Director and a top leader of professional development.
In 1972, he met Honduran-born Zulay Domínguez Galeano while waiting for the bus on their way to college. His pick-up line was, “¿Te veo el domingo, después de la Misa?” They were married at Gesù Catholic Church and have three adult children: Joseph Simon (Julissa Delgado), Yané Marie (Timothy Sleppy), and Peter Paul (Cassandra Galanter) – and nine grandchildren: Jose Nikolas, Maia Sienna, Ty Aaron, Kyle Andrew, Taylor Anne, Kendall Allison, Talon Alexis, Cristian Maximiliano, and Florence María.
At age 55, he entered the Archdiocese of Miami’s Permanent Diaconate Program, attending St. John Vianney and St. Vincent de Paul Seminaries. Ordained in 2010, he was assigned to St. Augustine Catholic Church.
Deacon Pepe dedicated his life to Our Lord, family, friends, and anyone in need of his counsel or services. The Archbishop appointed him Chaplain of Matrimonios en Victoria, and Spiritual Director of the Renovación Carismática and Horizontes de Cristiandad. For 14 years, he directed the program Stella Maris, Radio Paz 830AM, providing pastoral care to cruise/cargo ships’ crewmembers and people who work at sea.
Viewing: Memorial Plan Westchester, 9800 SW 24th St., Miami, Sunday 1/19, 5:30pm-10:30pm. Funeral Mass: St. Augustine, 1400 Miller Road, Coral Gables, Monday 1/20, 1:30pm. Burial: Our Lady of Mercy Cemetery, 11411 NW 25th St., Doral, 3:30pm.
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