Former North Student, 22, Dies After Fall in Cancun

By Pam DeFiglio
Zaia Odisho, who graduated from Niles North High School in 2008 and formerly lived in Skokie, died after falling from a balcony, according to a Mexican newspaper.
A funeral service for Zaia Odisho, 22, of Morton Grove, was held Thursday at an Assyrian church in Chicago. Odisho died while vacationing in Mexico.

The Mexican newspaper Diario de Quintana Roo said Zaia died Friday, Aug. 31, after falling off a seventh-floor balcony at the Riu Palace Las Americas hotel in Cancun.

A member of St. George’s Parish of the Assyrian Church of the East, also called Mar Gewargis Parish, at 7201 N. Ashland Ave., said a funeral service for Odisho was held there around 1 p.m. Thursday, followed by burial at Montrose Cemetery. The church member declined to give her name.

Odisho lived in Morton Grove, after previously living in Skokie, and attended Niles North High School, graduating in 2008.

Well-wishers have started a fundraising drive on GiveForward.com to raise funds for Odisho’s family. Many have also left condolences.

A YouTube video tribute to Odisho, included with this story, was posted a few days ago.

Stan Golovchuk and George Slefo also contributed to this story.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJXrfRn63xU&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

http://skokie.patch.com/articles/former-north-student-22-dies-after-fall-in-cancun