Matilde Garcia

My mom was born to Angela Hernandez and Luis Flores, a Farmer and Coffee plantation owner in Coban, Guatemala on February 2nd 1938. She had two older brothers 18 and 16 and an older sister 12 making her the youngest of 5. She remembers her 16 year old brother went missing and was never found. Shortly after Armed men came to their home in the middle of the night and killed her father in front of her and her mom while they were hiding. They got away and they were given shelter by a family friend. Then a few months later her mom disappeared, not being able to take care of my mom her older brother and sister left her with a lady who said she would care for her. My mom was abused and put to work by this lady. At the age of 13 while working for some wealthy people as a housekeeper in Guatemala she was raped by an older boy 18 that worked there also. His name was Solomon and 9 months later Carlos was born. Then she got a job with another family who allowed her to keep the baby in the house 6 months later my mom got really sick and was hospitalized for 3 months. When she was released she went to pick up her son only to find out the lady had sold him because she thought my mom was dead. She eventually got the location and names of the couple that bought him. My mom hung out day and night on the same street eating anything she could find until the lady finally noticed my mom had been living there on the streets. The lady feeling sorry for her gave my mom shelter on the condition that she would help take care of Carlos no knowing she was Carlos’s mother. My mom stayed there for about a week until she finally made her move but was hit in the head with a bat by the lady’s husband. My mom explained to them that it was her son and all she wanted was to give him up legally in court. They agreed to go with her. In the courtroom my mom told the judge that she wants to keep her son and that she just told them that because she was afraid for her life. My mom regained custody. My mom’s struggles continued most of her life… she was always saddened by the fact that she lost all her family and never got to see them again. She was saddened that she could not even buy Carlos a pencil for school but her three good friends where always there to support her Fina, Julita, and Olga. In 1972 my mom left for Los Angeles and left behind her son Carlos and her newly born Granddaughter Wendy. She knew no one and began working as a live in House keeper and saved up enough money to bring everyone to Los Angeles. She paid for Carlos, Wendy, Her mother, and in the mid 80’s she paid for Sonia to cross over…whom is Carlo’s Second wife and Saul who is Carlos’s brother whom shared the same foul father. Everyone is here today because of my mom. She was kind, loving and caring she was just simply an amazing woman…my mother Matilda. She became my mother in 1979 the day I was born… Not being able to care for me I was given up at birth to my one and only mother Matilde Flores Garcia... She was an Angel to me. Not a day went by where she didn’t tell me she loved me and not a day went by that she didn’t give me a kiss…and not one day went by that I didn’t do the same… except I smothered her with kisses and she loved it.. She often told me that the reason she was still alive was because I gave her the love that she didn’t receive as a child. In the end I was there holding her in my arms till her little heart so full of love stopped beating… She was a fighter and fought cancer since 2006… She was my world… No more struggling no more suffering R.I.P mama… I always have you in my thoughts and in my heart…

By: Edward Flores

Thank you for the gift of love.

Now you're sharing it up above.

You had many things to say,

All in a caring way.

You always saw good in everyone,

No matter what they've done.

You were always the one we could all lean on,

Even though it must have felt like a ton.

You were always the strenght of the family.

Now we must let you rest calmly.

We say goodbye,

As tears roll down our eyes.

I know your place in heaven has a good view.

You're telling God,

I need to keep an eye on a few.

Iknow you will always be in our hearts and minds.

So Grandma,

I must go, but I'll never forget you're one of a kind.

Love,

Wendy Flores, Leivan

A thousand times we needed you

A thousand times we cried

If love alone could have saved you

you never would have died

A heart of gold stopped beating

two twinkling eyes closed to rest

God broke ouor hearts to prove he only took the best

never a day goes by that you're not in my heart and my soul.

Love,

Wendy Flores, Leiva

Although I cannot see you,

I feel your presence near.

I will hold you close in memory,

Till I drop my very last tear.

So sleep now with the angels,

And your golden heart let rest.

Although our hearts are broken,

We know GOD took the best.

So dance beyond those golden gates,

And join your loving mum.

I'll see you when I'm sleeping,

And pray for you to come.

And although this pain is painful,

And I really don't wanna let you go.

I'll wait for death to take me Nan,

So we can together one day glow.

Until that day I'll close my eyes,

and see your smiling face.

I'll lock you up inside me heart,

Until we again embrace.

So rest now my beautiful nana,

I'll never forget how much you have done.

So until my hand meet yours again,

Sleep now in the sun.

Love,

Wendy Flores, Leiva