God Fearing Woman

My grandmother was remembered as a devout, God fearing woman. She spent all the hours of her days and nights serving her family and friends. When she turned 79 years of age, she had a stroke and was physically impaired to the left side of her body. Her duties were fulfilled and it was now our turn to take care of her. She could not longer pronounce words correctly or maneuver in any way that would enable her to benefit her family. Abuelita, as we called her, was confined to a wheelchair for the next two years of her life. This was immensely frustrating to her because she was now under strict limitations for helping others, which was her favorite pursuit. She also could no longer cook her Spanish enriched food, which she loved to do as well.

Abuelita passed away April 9th of 2006. She was buried in the city of San Jose and at a cemetery that overlooked a large portion of the city. I recall driving with Tio Julio in his dark blue Astro van for about half an hour before arriving to the funeral. The ride was extremely bumpy being that the road maintenance in San Jose is little to none. The thought of my mother’s face pressed in her wet hands at the viewing kept circulating through my mind as we navigated through the mountains.

I never knew my grandmother on a personal level very well, although I had many opportunities to gain insight about life and what she had to offer it. Language (Spanish vs. English) was a barrier that could have been avoided if I weren’t so lazy in my speech. On the hot afternoon of April 9th, I felt this aurora of remorse that radiated throughout her beloved. Those that knew her love recognized that she lived her life to the fullest by being an essential part of theirs. Whatever Abuelita’s identity was, she was sure of it. Abuelita’s spirit remains eternal as her body inhabits time.

Jason Cunningham