In 1948 Jake and Lupe went to the JP and got married without their parents knowledge. Lupes father said I dont think so, you might be married in the law but you were not married in the church. A few weeks later they were married again in the Catholic Church. They always used the JP date as their anniversary.

Their 69th anniversary was this past Monday. Lupe didnt quite make it but I say we round up and call it an even 69 years.

Only twice can we remember when Jake and Lupe were separated for more than a couple of days in that 69 years. Amazing.

To so many young people, she was just Grandma Lupe or Aunt Lupe. She was one of 9 children and had 35 nieces and nephews if our count is correct. Many of those people are here today. Those 35 have had many kids and grandkids. The Gonzales family reunion was more than 250 strong.

Many of you know that Jake is the strong silent type. That was OK, Lupe did the talking for both of them. You knew she ran the house and carried the conversation. That was good for me because I think Jake maybe said 10 complete sentences to me in the first 20 years I knew him. That was OK. As Peggy always told me, Lupe thought I hung the moon.

You have seen the pictures today. Who can ever forget the famous Worlds Greatest Grandma and Grandpa sweatshirts? Birthdays, Christmas? Didnt matter.

For those of you that lived in Austin in the early 70s, Ill bet you ate at Panchos Mexican Buffet on Burnet Road. Ill also bet that some of you dont know that Jake opened and managed that restaurant. In fact, if you were there on a weekend and raised the flag for more, it might have been Jake, Lupe, or even Peggy that came to the rescue.

Lupe never learned to swim. Because of that she insisted that all of her children be certified swimmers. They did that at Pleasure Island in Victoria. I am guessing that many people in this room learned to swim there as well. Turns out Gary had to take the classes twice. He passed just fine the first time, but Peggy flunked and Lupe insisted that Gary go again and help his sister. Thats just Lupe.

Man could she cook. Nothing ever written down. Peggy finally just went and watched her make her Mexican dishes. Add a little of this and then taste it, she would say. Do that until it was right. Hmmm Hmmm.

There was never any discussion of heritage in this family. We were just family. Our great friend Julie Early told me a story this morning about heading to their house on a Friday night after eating at Chuys. John and David were maybe 4 or 5 and David asked John if he was Mexican. John said no, Im Victorian. I love that story.
In November of 2004, for my mothers 80th birthday, we convinced Lupe to join my family on a 7-day cruise in the Caribbean. This was one of those two times that Jake and Lupe were separated for more than a few days, ever. Our first sea day was heading to Key West and prior to boarding, a strong cold front had swept through Texas. It was cold when we woke up the next day. Oh yeah, and it was a little windy. Truth be told, it was howling and we were in 16-foot seas that took out about 3/4s of the passengers. Not Lupe. She was out there with me and Peggy riding the high seas like a pirate. She had her sea legs.

I always loved looking over and watching Jake and Lupe holding hands. Not on special occasions, all the time. A romance for the ages.

The countless birthdays, parties, Christmas Eves, Easter egg hunts. She never missed one that I can remember. Many of them in that famous sweatshirt. Worlds Greatest Grandma. Turns out she was right.


"My Mom" by Peggy Griffith, Lupe's daughter

My Mom was my mentor, my caregiver, my biggest cheerleader.

She always wanted the best for me.(summer tennis lessons, ice skating lessons,trying out for dance teams)

Some of her little sayings were:

"Save your pennies because they will turn into dollars."

The golden rule. "Treat others as you would want to be treated."

"Family is important."

Always remember where you came from.(2 bedroom house 4 kids in one bedroom)

"Always live within your means."

"Do all the things you want to do."

"Don't smoke and don't drink."

Well that last one I kinda fudged on I do have a drink every now and then.

So my last couple of weeks with mom were special.

She let me know " she chose to leave this life." ok so I knew time was short.

Everyday I would visit her and tell her all the things I wanted her to hear before she left. Rub her back and hold her hand. So when I left I would always tell her see you tomorrow and I would go the next day and tell her something else. Some days she would respond with "ok Honey" some days with just a grunt or "uhh huh."
By the end of her journey I was feeling pretty good this is how this is suppose to go.
Being I had never experienced losing someone close to me she was still teaching me how this works . I have no regrets she knows how I felt and I thanked her she was the best teacher for me. On the last day the last thing I told her was to go and we would take care of dad. When I left that day I told her see you tomorrow knowing in my heart tomorrow was not going to come. Within I two hours of me leaving I got the call she had passed. No problem I was ready and so was she. So rest mom until we meet again.



Thanks for the memories for myself and my children. You will be greatly Missed.

In my Heart Forever,
Peggy

Very sorry to hear of Mrs. Pina's passing.  I will always cherish memories of sitting outside with her and her family on summer evenings in her lawn.  Prayers to the family

It is with great pleasure that i can say i had the honor of knowing Mrs. Pina. As i write this memory i can envision the smile that she always carried with her. To Mr. Pina and Shirley, thanks for the memories that i was able to share with your family and Mrs. Pina. Please send my condolences to all of the family. 

Respectfully,
Andrew Amaro
Victoria, Texas

Sending my sincere condolences to Jake, Shirley, Danny and Peggy and their families - I am sorry for your loss    I know she will be missed by everyone but when you see a rainbow - smile - she will be looking down on you and smiling back.

Sue

Sending our love and thoughts to Jake and the family during this difficult time.  Love always, Buddy and Barbara Gonzales and family, Vancouver, Washington.

My deepest sympathies and condolences to my Uncle Jake and my cousins and their families.  
Love
Virgie &  louie Martinez
Stafford , Texas

OBITUARY

Lupe G. Pina

28 July, 1929 – 21 September, 2017

Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home & Cemetery

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