Enrique N. Nunez

My grandparents, his father Bartolome Nunez, and his mother Elisa Nunez (same last name as Bartolome but not related), were both born in the state of San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

My grandparents had five children, all born in the state of San Luis Potosi, and who died past their adolescence: Javier, Alicia, Enrique, Rita and Raul. Conrado, who was younger than my father, died in infancy.

When my father was very young my grandparents moved to the City of Zacatecas, capital of the state with the same name. When my father was a teenager, my grandfather took advantage of an opportunity and came to work in this country. When my grandfather migrated to this country, my grandmother raised her five children and worked from home as a seamstress. The Nunez family was united and formed various friendships in their city of residence.

During my father’s childhood, he observed that his parents were struggling to provide basic necessities. My father would go to the central market and offer to carry grocery bags, with the tips earned from this service he would buy himself clothing and items that his parents were not able to afford. My father was a fair looking kid and many boys in his neighborhood would tease him implying that due to his looks he was a soft and weak boy. To avoid being bullied by his neighbors, my dad developed a tough attitude on which he would often get into fights. His attitude was not helpful at school and during the eighth grade he dropped out of school. For several years he held many jobs.

When my father was approximately 17 years old, he was offered a job at a bank. My father would say that the main reason he got the job was because the bank employees had a basketball and soccer team and they were in desperate need of a ‘bank employee’ who excelled in these two sports. The bank gained a better reputation on its two teams and my father gained several mentors who trained him to excel in providing banking services. During the approximately 5 years that my father worked at the bank, he was promoted from a teller to a substitute branch manager (substituting managers at banks located in towns within the state of Zacatecas). My father lived with my grandmother and helped with the house expenses.

My grandmother rented a house with a long covered hallway and she would allow homeless young men to sleep on the hallway (the majority of these young men would sell newspapers on the streets early in the morning and tended to go to sleep early). When my father would get home late at night, he would often trip over a young man sleeping on the hallway and whoever woke up would start laughing.

When my father was approximately 22 years old he received news that my grandfather, who had been living in this country for many years, had moved in with another woman. In an attempt to convince his father to return with his mother, my father obtained a visa and came to California in the early 1950s. Most of the time, during his three year stay in California, my father worked in construction. My father was disappointed that he was unsuccessful in convincing my grandfather to return to his wife. Many years later, when my grandmother was in her deathbed, she told my father to forgive his father because she and her children had received many blessings from God. My father forgave his father and felt relieved. During my grandfather’s last year of life, my father visited him a minimum of three times per month.

My father had a firm Catholic Faith and by his early twenties had developed values, such as, respect for others, and that persistence and hard work yields good results.

During his elementary school years he noticed a young woman, who was only a few months younger than him, named Bertha Avila, whom he eventually married. When they were both approximately 23 years old, they formalized their relationship. They got married on September 28, 1957, at Capilla de Napoles, located in the county of Guadalupe, Mexico.

My parents had 5 daughters and 3 sons. During their first years of marriage they lived in the city of Zacatecas where the twins, Alysia and Jorge Enrique, were born, followed by Jose Antonio and Veronica Margarita. During 1963 to 1966 my parents lived in Los Angeles County, California where Helena de Lourdes and Jesus Gerardo were born. In late 1966 my parents returned to the city of Zacatecas where Lorena and Celina were born.

During 1966 to 1979 my father undertook several short lived businesses and would also spend months of the year working in this country. My mother ran a grocery store, sold clothing among her friends, took care of her home and dealt with matters regarding the well-being and education of their children. Various nieces and nephews, from my father and from my mother’s family, established a good relationship with my father, whom they referred to as ‘Tio Enrique’.

My parents moved back to Los Angeles County, California, during the year of 1979. In 1982, when my father turned 50 years old, he obtained his contractor’s license and started his own construction company. My mother took care of her home.

Maybe having seen generosity from his mother, towards the homeless young men who slept in the covered hallway, influenced my father to help young men from the city of Zacatecas who would come to California to work. The word spread, among people that knew my father, that my father would give them a temporary job in California until they found a stable job. Many did not last long working for my father due to the nature of the physical work that they were not accustomed to, however, all who worked with him were grateful for his support.

My parents’ family continued to grow due to their childrens’ marriages. Daughters-In-Law joined the family (Monica, Alicia and Silvia) as well as Sons-In-Law (Miguel Angel, Jorge Luis, Johnny and Tim).

Children were born: 10 grandsons (Nathan Jose, Jose Antonio, Andres, Juan Pablo, Edgar Gerardo, David Alejandro, Ricardo, David Jesus, Esteban and Daniel), 4 granddaughters (Michelle Alexia, Krizia, Viviana Xochitl and Ana Isabel), and 4 great-grandchildren (Juan Pablo, Ana Paola, Elizabeth Tulie and Feliciano). Sucely, the fifth great-grandchild, will be born in early October.

My father loved his family and he dedicated time to us by participating in activities such as, attending birthday parties and graduations, engaging in conversations and watching televised sports with us (especially soccer and basketball). His favorite pastime was playing dominoes with young and old friends and family.

My father established and developed friendships through the years, of which several kept in touch with him until he aged.

My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease when he was 88 years old. During the last years of his life, he spent a great deal of time at his home under the care of women and men, with kind hearts, who would help him with his daily needs, such as, preparing his meals, feeding him and bathing him. They also offered him companionship and love by engaging him to sing along with them and listening to music with him.

My mother had a personality that complemented my father’s. She was typically the firm or strict one while he was the flexible one, which made them a good couple.

His body left us, which is a motive to be sad, however, our emotional balance inclines towards his lessons, his smile and pride in forming our family.

Coincidence or God’s Will?... my father will be laid to rest next to my mother only one day short of a year after she was laid to rest.

Thank you God for all your blessings. May my father rest in peace.

Mi padre nació en el estado de San Luis Potosi, México, el día 17 de Julio del año 1932. Fue bautizado, en la iglesia católica, como Enrique Nuñez.

Mis abuelos, su padre, Bartolome Nuñez, y su madre, Elisa Nuñez (mismo apellido a Bartolome pero sin parentesco), nacieron en el estado de San Luis Potosi, México.

Mis abuleos tuvieron 5 hijos, todos nacidos en el estado de San Luis Potosi, quienes fallecieron despues de su adolecencia: Javier, Alicia, Enrique, Rita y Raul. Conrado, quien era menor que mi padre, murio en su infancia.

Cuando mi padre era pequeño mis abuelos se mudaron a la ciudad de Zacatecas, capital del estado del mismo nombre. Cuando mi padre tenia approximadamente 12 años de edad, mi abuelito aprovecho una oportunidad de trabajo y se vino a vivir a este pais, Los Estados Unidos de America. Cuando mi abuelito emigro a este pais, mi abuelita estuvo al tanto del porvenir y educación de sus hijos y trabajaba desde su hogar como costurera. La familia Nuñez fue unida y formaron varias amistades en su ciudad de residencia.

Durante su infancia, mi padre observo que sus padres batallaban con los gastos de la familia. Mi padre iba al mercado principal y se ofrecia a cargar las bolsas del mandado, con las propinas se compraba ropa de su gusto y articulos que sus padres no le podian comprar. Mi padre fue un niño bien parecido y por consequencia varios de los niños de su vecindario lo provocaban implicando que por su fisico era un niño docil y cobarde. Para no ser intimidado por sus vecinos, mi padre desarollo una actitud brava por la cual se peleaba a golpes frecuentemente. Esta actitud no le ayudo en la escuela y dejo de estudiar durante su segundo año de secundaria. Por unos cuantos años trabajo en varios trabajos.

Cuando mi padre tenia aproximadamente 17 años empezo a trabajar en un banco en la ciudad de Zacatecas. Mi padre decia que el motivo principal que obtubvo el empleo era porque los empleados del banco tenian equipos de basquetbol y de futbol y que estaban muy necesitados de un ‘empleado bancario’ que ‘fuera bueno’ para los dos deportes. El banco gano una mejor reputacion en sus dos equipos y mi papa gano el tener varios tutores que lo prepararon a sobresalir en los servicios bancarios. Durante los aproximadamente 5 años que mi papa trabajo en el banco fue promovido de cajero a substituto de gerente bancario (substituia a gerentes de bancos ubicados en varios pueblos dentro del estado de Zacatecas). Mi padre vivia con mi abuelita y ayudaba con los gastos de la casa.

Mi abuelita rentaba una casa que tenia un zaguan largo y permitia que jovenes sin hogar donde vivir ‘jovenes indigentes’ durmieran en el (la mayoria de los jovenes vendian periodico por las calles temprano en las mañanas y acostumbraban a dormirse temprano). Cuando mi padre llegaba tarde a casa, se tropezaba frecuentemnte con alguno de los jovenes, lo que causaba mucha risa a los jovenes que se despertaban.

Cuando mi padre tenia aproximadamente 22 años recibio la noticia que mi abuelito, quien ya tenia muchos años viviendo en este pais, vivia con una mujer. Mi padre obtuvo una visa y a principios de los años 50s viajo a California con la intencion de convencer a su padre que regresara con su esposa. Durante la gran parte de los tres años que permanencio en California, mi padre trabajo en construccion. Mi padre se decepciono al no poder convencer a mi abuelito a que regresara con su esposa. Muchos años despues, cuando mi abuelita estaba en su lecho de muerte, le pidio a mi padre que perdonara a mi abuelito y le decia que Dios le habia brindado muchas bendiciones a ella y a sus hijos. Mi padre perdono a su padre y sintio un gran alivio. Duante el ultimo año de vida de mi abuelito, mi padre lo visitaba por lo menos tres veces por mes.

Mi padre tenia una fe católica firme y para la edad de 25 años habia desarrollado valores tales como, el buen trato al prójimo, y que la persistencia y el trabajo bien hecho brindan beneficios.

Durante sus años de primaria se fijó en una joven, solamente meses menor que el, llamada Bertha Avila, con quien eventualmente se casaría. Cuando ambos tenían aproximadamnente 23 años de edad formalizaron su noviazgo y contrajeron nupcias el 28 de septiembre de 1957, en la Capilla de Napoles, ubicada en el municipio de Guadalupe, Zacatecas.

Nuestros padres tienen 5 hijas y 3 hijos. Durante sus primeros años de matrimonio nuestros padres vivieron en la ciudad de Zacatecas donde nacieron los gemelos o cuates, Alysia y Jorge Enrique, seguidos por José Antonio y después Verónica Margarita. Durante los años de 1963 a 1966 nuestros padres vivieron en el condado de Los Angeles, California, donde nacieron Helena de Lourdes y Jesús Gerardo. Una vez regresando a Zacatecas nacieron Lorena y Celina.

Durante los años de1966 a 1979 mi padre emprendio varios negocios, de corta vida cada uno, y tambien pasaba varios meses del año trabajando en este pais. Mi madre atendía una tienda de abarrotes y legumbres, vendía ropa entre sus amistades, y estaba al tanto del porvenir y educación de sus hijos. Varios sobrinos y sobrinas, tanto del lado de la familia de mi padre como de mi madre, establecieron una muy buena relación con mi padre a quien le decían ‘Tio Enrique’.

En el año de 1979, mis padres decidieron mudarse nuevamente a este pais estableciendo su hogar en el condado de Los Angeles. En el año de1982, cuando mi padre cumplio 50 años de edad, obtuvo su licencia de contratista y estableció su propio negocio de construccion. De ahi en adelante mi madre continuo dedicandose al hogar.

Quizas la generosidad que observo de su madre, hacia los jovenes indigentes que dormian en el Zaguan, influyo a que mi padre ‘tendiera la mano’ a jovenes de la ciudad de Zacatecas que viajaban a California a trabajar. Se divulgaba, entre personas que conocian a mi padre, que mi padre les daria trabajo temporal en California hasta que consiguieran un trabajo estable. Varios no ‘aguantaron’ el trabajar con mi padre por la demanda fisica del trabajo de construction, a la cual no estaban impuestos. Aun asi todos los que trabajaron con mi padre estuvieron agradecidos por su apoyo.

Y así la familia creció con los matrimonios de sus hijos e hijas. Se unieron a la familia las nueras (Mónica, Alicia y Silvia) y los yernos (Miguel Angel, Jorge Luis, Johnny y Tim).

Nacieron 10 nietos (Nathan José, José Antonio, Andrés, Juan Pablo, Edgar Gerardo, David Alejandro, Ricardo, David Jesús, Esteban y Daniel), 4 nietas (Michelle Alexia, Krizia, Viviana Xochitl y Ana Isabel), dos bisnietos (Juan Pablo y Feliciano) y dos bisnietas (Ana Paola y Elizabeth Tulie). Sucely, la tercera bisnieta, nacera a principios de Octubre.

Mi padre amó a su familia y nos dedico su tiempo participando con nosotros en actividades tales como fiestas y graduaciones, pláticas y viendo deportes televisados (especialmente futbol y basquetbol). Su pasatiempo favorito era jugar domino con amigos y familiares, tanto con los jovenes como con los adultos.

Mi padre hizo varias amistades a través de los años. De la cuales, varias se mantuvieron en contacto con el hasta su vejez.

Mi padre fue diagnosticado con demencia, Alzheimer’s, cuando el tenia 88 años de edad. Durante sus últimos años de vida mi padre pasó mucho tiempo en su hogar bajo el cuidado de mujeres y hombres, de un corazón noble, que lo ayudaban a necesidades básicas, tales como prepararle sus alimentos, darle de comer y bañarlo. Ademas le brindaban compañía y cariño escuchando música con el.y animandolo a cantar.

Mi madre tenía una personalidad que se complementaba bien con la de mi padre. Típicamente ella era firme o estricta y él mas flexible, por lo que eran una buena pareja.

Su cuerpo nos deja, y es motivo para estar tristes, pero a la vez, la balanza de nuestras emociones se inclina mas al lado de sus lecciones, sus sonrisas y de su orgullo de haber formado a nuestra familia.

Coincidencia o la Voluntad de Dios?...mi padre sera sepultado junto a mi madre a un dia para que se cumpla el año que ella fue sepultada.

Gracias Dios por tus bendiciones.

Te pido le otorges a mi padre el eterno descanso.