Zoya Cottom

MADISON-Zoya (Zingale) Cottom, greatly loved wife, mother, and grandmother, died peacefully in her sleep on Sunday morning, Dec. 27, 2015. She was born to Santos and Olga Zingale on June 28,1934. She grew up in Milwaukee and Madison, in an extended family of cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. In 1952, just shy of her 18th birthday, she married her high school sweetheart, Don Cottom. They were married and loved each other for 56 years, until Don's passing in 2008. They moved away from Madison, living in Bethlehem, Pa., Columbia, N.J., Westland, Mich., Kellner, Wis., and Chaska, Minn., where Don pursued his vocation as a Moravian minister. In the mid 70's they returned to Madison, where they made their final home together. A long-time employee of the Wildwood Clinic in Madison, Zoya was well loved by staff and clients for her diligence, compassion, and sense of humor. She had a life-long love of reading and was rarely without several books by her side. She was known for her cooking and baking, passing along family stories, culture, and traditions in the foods she made and taught her children to make. She was a talented, funny, insightful, intelligent, and creative woman. She will be greatly missed. Zoya is survived by her children, Daniel (Deborah), Kristine, George (Karen), Michael (Peggy), and Jonathan (Amy); and grandchildren, Erin, Sarah, Eli, Rafael, and Isabelle. She was preceded in death by her son, Jimmy, who will be waiting with her husband, Don, to greet his mother. A memorial gathering will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Zoya's preferred charity, Porchlight in Madison, Wis. (porchlightinc.org), an organization providing support for the homeless. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420