Zeneida Ureña Troya

Zeneida Ureña Troya, 81, of Terre Haute, IN, peacefully passed away on April 14, 2021, surrounded by loved ones, after a courageous battle with COVID-19.

Zeneida, who was lovingly known as Mima, was born on May 16, 1939 to Tómas Ureña and Gertrudis Troya on the beautiful isthmus of Panama. Mima emigrated to the United States in 1965 and worked as a nanny in Chicago, Illinois. She eventually moved to Miami, Florida where she worked for Cordis Corporation for over 20 years. In 1997, she accepted a position with St. Jude Medical and relocated to St. Paul, MN where she worked until she retired in 2000. She then moved to Sioux City, IA to be closer to her first grand-daughter Dielle so she could be a full-time grandmother. In 2015, Mima moved for the last time, following her family to Terre Haute, IN.  

Mima had two beautiful biological children, Giovanna (Giovy) and Jesus (Zeus) Carnet. Although she was tenderly known as “Mami” to her children, she became “Mima” to a host of other souls.  For decades she lived out the role of surrogate mother to many more beautiful people across the world.

Mima was passionate about God, prayer, her faith, her family and friends.  Mima had a servant’s heart, and her greatest joy and strongest love language was cooking for others.  She loved spending time in the kitchen making her famous “sopas” for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family and friends.

Mima was a member of the Terre Haute Church of God where she was part of the intercessory prayer team. She loved reading her Bible, singing worship songs and praying for others. She absolutely loved gardening and being outdoors. She spent countless hours encouraging others on the phone. Her constant companions were her great-grandchildren and Pepper, her 24-year-old Cockatiel.

She was preceded in death by her parents Tómas and Gertrudis, siblings, Isabel, Julio, Elida, Candida, Efrain, Nestor, Segundo, and the love of her life, Jesus Carnet Heredia. Surviving family members include her daughter Giovy (Carnet) and Dennis Sanders, her son Jesus (Zeus) Carnet and Mindy Haws, her grandchildren Dielle, Caelen, Lukas, Hope, her great-grandchildren King, Brysen, Ace, Tytan and her siblings, Juana, Berta, Nelva, Ruben and Cesar.  She also had a great number of nieces and nephews and adopted adult children across the United States.

Mima impacted lives wherever she went by sowing seeds of love, encouragement, joy and laughter. She leaves behind a bountiful harvest of faith, changed lives and love. To know Mima, was to love her; she will forever be missed.

Mima’s Celebration of Life service will be officiated by her daughter, Pastor Giovy Sanders and will be held at her home church, the Terre Haute Church of God, 2501 Thompson Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47802 on April 22, 2021.

Visitation for friends and family will begin at 11:00 a.m. with the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. The family will host a time of fellowship following the service. Online condolences may be made to www.debaunfuneralhomes.com.

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