Celita Tricoche Zuluaga

Celita Zuluaga was a servant of the Lord ever since her early childhood. The Lord called her and marked her life at a very young age. She was born to Mauricio Rodriguez and Esperanza Trichoche Rodriguez in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She was one of twelve children. During her childhood, she would climb trees with her brothers: Joseph, Victoriano, Archie, Peter, Ephriam, and John. She grew up at 17 Saint Marks Place in Brooklyn, New York. She received her degree in Radiology from Our Lady of Lords Hospital in New Jersey.

One day she was asked, “Could you describe a day in your life during your teenage years?” She replied that her favorite were her Fridays when she was 16 years old. At that time, Celita was president and leader of the young people in her church in New Jersey. On Fridays she would attend the church’s night service, and then go with all the young people to serenate the sick people in the church. She would not get much sleep those nights. She would wake up on Saturday morning and join up with the musicians in the church, and together they would hold an open-air service on a city street corner. From 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, every Saturday, they would hold an open-air service. From Friday to Sunday they would cover the East, West, South, and North sides of the city with open-air preaching. The Lord used Celita as a preacher and as a worship leader. She was gifted to sing and play instruments. She was able to play the piano, the organ, and the accordion.

Her passion was preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her passion was for the lost to be reached and saved. Her passion was for the sick to be healed. Her passion was for the gospel to go the ends of the earth. Her passion was serving on the mission field. At the age of 25 she went on her first mission trip to the Dutch Islands. She remembered staying and working in the ministry with her friend Digna Incarnasion. She said the people from the Dutch Islands were such nice people.

Celita met her husband Walter Zuluaga on the mission field in Columbia, South America and married him at the age of 30.  They did the bulk of their ministry in Columbia and in New Jersey. Walter died in 1985. She will be missed and loved by her daughter Damariz Zuluaga Flores. Celita has 3 grandchildren Meagan, Adrian, and Victoriano. She has 3 great grandchildren Amiya, Leah, and Ariya.

Celita was a faithful member of Christian Tabernacle for many years under the leadership of the Senior Pastor whom she loved so dearly, Pastor Heard.

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, September 7, 2018 from 11:00am to 12:00pm, at Christian Tabernacle Church, 13334 Wallisville Rd, Houston, TX 77049. Funeral services will immediately follow at 12:00pm. Interment will follow in Sterling-White Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Sterling-White Funeral Home, 11011 Crosby-Lynchburg Rd., Highlands, TX 77562. To offer the family condolences, please visit www.sterlingwhite.com.