Memorial Service Live Stream:
Events
The Memorial Service will take place on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 starting 10:00AM EST at the Gasch’s Funeral Home, P.A., located at 4739 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville, MD 20781. For those unable to attend the service in-person, you can participate remotely by viewing the live stream of the service (please scroll up to see the video).
The Visitation will take place on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 following the Memorial Service at the Gasch’s Funeral Home, P.A., located at 4739 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville, MD 20781. For those unable to attend the service in-person, you can participate remotely by viewing the live stream of the visitation (please scroll up to see the video).
The Repass will take place on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 following the Visitation at the Gasch’s Funeral Home, P.A., located at 4739 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville, MD 20781.
Order of Service
Obituary
John was born on June 30, 1972, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to our late parents, Augustine and Agnes Kaiza. He grew up in Dar es Salaam, attending Kisutu Primary School and later Moshi Technical School, where trained to be an electrician. It was a skill that served him well. He spent a decade working for the Tanzania Electric Company, TANESCO, before he embarked on a new
adventure and moved to the United States in 2000.
John was an incredible person, truly one of a kind. He loved God dearly and would hardly miss the holy mass. He had a heart so big it seemed to have room for everyone. He was what you would call a “people person”—not in the way of just being social, but in the way of genuinely caring for others. If you needed help, John was there, no questions asked. Whether you needed a hand with a project, a ride somewhere, or just a listening ear, he would be there with his sleeves rolled up and a smile on his face. He believed in the power of a helping hand, and he showed that through his actions every single day. He was the kind of person who would go out of his way to make sure you were okay, always putting others’ needs before his own. That’s a rare quality, and it’s why so many of us felt a deep connection to him. He didn’t just offer help; he offered himself. His kindness wasn’t just an act; it was who he was.
John found great happiness here, especially in his family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Patricia Thornton, and his two stepdaughters, Sheketa King and Ashley Thornton, whom he cherished. He was a loving husband and a caring stepfather, finding joy in the new life they built together.
John was beloved brother to Charles Kaiza, Emmanuel Kaiza and Josephine. He was a dotting uncle to Malaika. We will carry his memory in our hearts always. John is also mourned by his sisters-in-law, Sharon and Sergna, and his brothers-in-law, Jay and Carl, and a wide circle of friends whose lives he touched.
John passed away suddenly early morning of August 14, 2025, in his home in Hyattsville, Maryland. His passing leaves avoid in our lives that can never be filled. But as we mourn, let’s also remember the light he brought into the world. Let’s remember his selfless nature, his big heart, and the way he made each of us feel seen and cared for. His cheerful spirit lives on in every life he touched. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.