My mom's childhood was very exciting, she told me so many stories...She told me that when her dad became a widow, he met his second wife. She was only fourteen years old when they got together,my mom used to tell me that her and her stepmother used to play dolls, and they will play with sand, and that when her dad got home from work, food wasn't done, and he had to cook for them. He will get mad at my grandma and will hit her with a belt. But they were only two kids still and didn't know anything about life, but play around and be a kid. After a while my grandma learn to cook some but will let the food burn, because they will go to play with dolls.lol ...But they grew up and then my mom got married to my dad.She got pregnant the first year,it was a girl, Maria Monserrate was her name. She only lived 6 days,six days and she didn't cry, eat,or pooped. On the sixth day, she just looked at my dad, and mumble her voice and she died. My mom cried a lot.that was her second loss. First my grandma, then fourteen years later, she lost her first child...one year went by; then I came. I remember when I was three years old, my father decide to come to USA, to work on the fields. He left us alone, my mom was very sad. She then decided to work in the neighborhood, doing housework, to make a few bucks, until my dad would send us money , to buy food.I remember every other Monday, my mom waited for the mailman, special delivery, on the dot. My father was a hard working man, always taking care of his family.  I remember he would send us,In a box of cigars, sometimes, strawberries, blackberries or blueberries, wich most of them went bad by the time they got to our hands. I remember this like if it was yesterday...Then , three years after I was born, came my brother , Rafael Antonio, and I remember we were alone again, my mother gave birth at home. Luckily my uncle was there for us two, and so was my grandma, Vicenta Decoz. My mom was happy. Then from there on I can't remember what happen. All I know was that we then moved closer to the city, and my dad was staying more close to us...

This memorial is about me beloved mother. Mami was the most beautiful person I've ever met. She loved live, she loved to work and she loved her friend and cherished every one of them. My mother loved us, her kids with her life. She was a very faithful wife to my dad. She will travel miles, to bring food to my table, when she knew I was in need. She was born in Puerto Rico, to a very poor family. Her mother died when she was only six years old. She had a brother and a sister. Her sister grew up with a different family, some relatives took her away and separated them. My grandpa had to take care of her and her brother, he will had to leave them alone , so he could go to work and bring home their daily bread. My mom used to tell me that she used to run  free all by herself and her brother and other kids,around the neighborhood while her dad was at work. She only went to school up to third grade. But she learn to read and write. She used to be lefty, but back in those days , teachers will punish them, by hitting them on their hands with a ruler, until they learn to use the right hand...the kids that use to play with them, they all grew up together and later on one of them became my father. They got married at the age of 19 yrs.old. their marriage lasted until death do them apart, 48 long years...