Francisca Jesus Duenas (aka Nana and to some Chus)was born on December 15, 1922 in Usulutan, El Salvador to Felix and Carmen Duenas. Papa Felix served as a General in the Salvadoran armed forces. And was posted in nearby San Miguel. Coming home on weekends. Mama Carmen cared for family at home. Francisca was the 4th child born in a family of two brothers and three sisters. The oldest was Felix Felipe, then Carmen, then Alicia,and after Nana was Carlos Luis.She grew up on a farm with cattle, horses and pigs used for their own sustenance which was very typical in those days. They did produce and sell fruit. And owned a quarry, selling rock to the city. They also donated building materials to many friends in the community. Francisca was an adventurous child. She once told one of her fathers soldiers to climb the tree and grab the moon for her. Nana was known to be a “tom-boy” loving to climb trees to pick the fruit. She once was discovered missing and was found sleeping with the chickens in their coop. Regretfully, when she was 7 years old, her Father was killed in a vengeful act. Being the face of the military, he was targeted by some disgruntled citizens. Even worse, her mother Carmen died, heart-broken, 3 months later. As you can imagine life changed drastically for Nana and her siblings. The oldest brother had already moved and started a family. Her oldest sister Carmen, 16 at the time, had to leave boarding school and care for her younger sisters and brother. Francisca loved to dance. She was always crafty and loved to make her own clothes. Her creative talent was prevalent until at a late age, within the last 7 or 8 years,when she became partially blind. At the age of 24, she met the love of her life, Hector Anibal Blandon, a skilled mechanic and a big rig truck driver and business man. He was basically a “jack of all trades”. They married a few years later and at first lived in San Salvador. There first child Ana was born there. A year later, Hector joined his Sister Luisa who had an appliance business in Usultan and the family moved back . In the next 4 years, daughters Teresa and Marta where born there. Life for them was happy and normal for the next 10 years. Mom and Dad loved to dance with her children. Nana created and made all of her children’s clothes and had home business teaching young women how to sow. She was known as the best seamstress in the town.Unfortunately tragedy struck again when at the age of 33 Hector had an accident which affected his lungs. He struggled with respiratory issues and died a year later October 30th, 1961. Left with a young family, and no experience in managing a business she decided to come by herself to the United States to set up a home for her children. She lived in San Francisco with her niece Delmy. She worked there and eventually was able to bring her daughters to live with her in San Francisco.
She is survived by 8 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren
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