On March 25, 2011 we lost a great lady, my mom. She lived to be more than 90 years old and she was happy celebrating with her family at her birthday party.
She had eight sisters and two brothers. She has five siblings who survive her. She was born in Tyrone, New Mexico, where she lived until she was 8 years old when her parents moved the family to Mexico.
On April 1, 1937, my father and my mother decided to be together. They were married a month later. My mom was 16 and my dad 19 years old. They were married for more than 67 years.
My father came to the United States to work in the bracero program. My mom's pride and joy was the house that he was able to buy with the money that he earned.
I have many memories of my mother; like how she had me make a kitchen towel to learn how to embroider. I remember well that she told me I had to do a good job, if not, I had to undo what I had done and re-do it.
She and my grandmother Pilar, taught me how to crochet.
Besides embroidery and crocheting, my mother liked to sew. She never went to school to learn what she did. I can only imagine if she had had an opportunity, she would have become a famous designer.
My mom was a good wife and mother. She did so much for my father and us. She liked to see us in clean and well-pressed clothes, and our home was always clean and orderly. There was always something good in the kitchen, even if it was only "frijoles de la olla" and chile with tortillas, which of course, she hand-made. I'd have her "maquina de hacer tortillas."
Although my mom was a quiet person, she would pick the right time to let us know what she was thinking. She also had a sense of humor and would enjoy when we laughed with her. She especially like to kid around with my dad.
I am going to miss her so much and I'm thankful to God that she was my mother. I believe that when she reached the gates of heaven she didn't have to wait, they had the heavenly gates already opened for her.
Thank you for your love, your patience, for being a good role model, and more than anything, for being my mom. God bless you.
Graciela Gurrola Huatuco
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