05/04/1937-01/27/2023
(She was part of The Silent Generation)
1937 was an interesting year in history. Amelia Mary Earhart mysteriously disappeared over the Pacific Ocean, the Hindenburg burst into flames, the Golden Gate Bridge officially opened up in San Francisco, the New York Yankees defeated the NY Giants to win the World Series, Walt Disney premiered “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves,” and somewhere on a small Caribbean Island a little girl was born.
Monica Olmo was born on the island of Puerto Rico in a small town called Caimito Alto in Rio Piedras on May 4th, 1937. The Olmo family owned a large amount of land in Puerto Rico and were tobacco farmers. She was the daughter of Damian Olmo and Felicita Cotto. Monica was the 6th of 11 children. Her nickname was “Blanca,” because she was very pale when she was born. Monica’s mother died in 1945 during childbirth which was a great loss to the family. When Damian lost his beloved wife, he lost interest in farming and shepherding his large family; as a result their prosperity suffered.
The eldest daughter, Lucia, took over the family's responsibilities for a while, then married when she was barely old enough. Then Monica took over for a short time, but she was only eight years old. It was all too much for Monica’s father and he dispersed his children to family, friends and neighbors. During these hard times this practice wasn’t uncommon. As a result it was very hard for all family members.
In 1953 when Monica was 15, she migrated to the Bronx in New York where she would stay with family and work in a local factory alongside family members. It was The Great Puerto Rican Migration! During an 18 year period in United States history from (1946-1964), over 600,000 Puerto Ricans migrated to the US. There was a true “Westside Story” atmosphere with dancing, music, with the struggle to be accepted. It was this struggle that gave the Puerto Rican’s in this generation strength and courage.
Many times in life we need to be strong to move forward and overcome our fears by having courage. It takes strength to be certain, it takes courage to have doubt. It takes strength to fit in, and it takes courage to stand out.
Please see https://kcopera.org/the-great-puerto-rican-migration-and-west-side-story/
It wouldn’t be very long before Monica would meet a handsome fellow Puerto Rican named Francisco Lugo. They were married in 1954 and soon had a daughter named Miriam. The marriage lasted 12 years, and during that time they moved from the Bronx to Southern California in 1962. A few years later they had their second daughter Alexandria (“Sandy”). Soon after the marriage ended Monica became a single mother who had to raise two daughters alone.
Monica was a hard worker in New York, then Southern California factories for years, while dreaming of becoming a hairdresser. So as soon as she was able, she enrolled in the Newberry School of Beauty where she would become an excellent student. She was very popular with the clients, students and teachers.
She had a wonderful personality, always smiling, laughing, joking, dancing and singing. A woman full of life and love. You would never see her sad or depressed. She never let anyone bully her and always overcame each new challenge.
In 1974, her dream came true as she graduated beauty school, becoming a licensed hairdresser. This was a daunting accomplishment when considering the challenges of learning a new language, singly raising two young children, holding a full time night job, paying a mortgage all while having to assume full time student duties. The continued challenges in her life made Monica a “tough cookie” as she was determined to make it in this life.
The years would go by and Monica would continue to work hard providing for her daughters. Eventually she was able to purchase her first home in El Monte, California where she would continue to raise her daughters and care for them the best she could.
Monica always had a love for dancing. She was part of the Palladium Era which would run from 1945-1966. She would go to the Palladium when she lived there and after on her visits to New York to hear the sounds of Tito Puente, Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colon and Arsenio Rodriguez. During this wave of Latin Music she found her passion, Salsa dancing! During this time dancers were judged by how well they could dance - not by how much fame or money they had, or the color of their skin. Monica would wow the crowds every chance she could with her dancing skills. Those were the Days!!!
https://laepocafilm.com/, http://laepocafilm.com/article3/
Her two daughters would go on to marry and give her 4 grandsons who were her pride and joy. She would always be there for her family no matter what, giving all that she had.
No matter how near or far Monica was the glue that kept her family together, a true matriarch. She would make special trips to visit her family in New York, Florida and Puerto Rico. She loved all of her siblings and enjoyed spending time with them and their families.
Friends were just as important to Monica; she enjoyed dancing, playing Dominoes, going on trips, attending house parties, picnics and joking with them. She was always there with a joke and a smile. “The life of the party!”
Monica accepted the Lord in 1996 and continued in her faith, learning to forgive those that hurt her during her life. She would often write songs praising the Lord and would sing them for us.
Monica would continue to live, laugh, and love.
Monica would often say, “Food is Love.” She would have a plate of food waiting for her family and friends anytime of the day or night. To her food was life and love. During her childhood she grew up trying find food to feed her younger siblings. In her youth, food was truly life. Food was not easy to come by when the young Olmo children were growing up. Monica believed offering and sharing food with friends and family was demonstrating life and love for them.
“ Food is Love. A Celebration of Unity” by Jose Quinones
https://www.jtmfoodgroup.com/uploadIMG/rfUploads/PDFS/Jose_Article.pdf
Traveling was one of the many things Monica enjoyed doing when possible. She was blessed enough to go to Mexico with friends and swim with turtles; Hawaii with Miriam and two oldest grandsons to see waterfalls, and to Europe with her youngest sister Felicita to see beautiful flowers in Amsterdam.
In her later years she suffered a few health setbacks but would never let them get her down. She would spend time with her best friend Blanquita playing Dominoes or playing music until Blanquita's death in 2021. Her grandsons would always be there to come visit and spend time with her. Monica's two daughters and her caregiver Sandy took good care of her, making her as comfortable as possible until her passing.
When her daughter Alexandria knew she was close to being called to heaven, Alexandria called family and friends from near and far to come visit and say their goodbyes. Many of you came, texted, video chatted and called. It was such a surprise to her and a blessing. Thank you for showing her so much love.
At the time of her death she was blessed to pass in her home with her two sisters Lilly and Felicita by her side along with her youngest daughter Alexandria and grandson Ayin (Ein).
She passed peacefully, comfortably and beautifully.
She is now dancing before the Lord and reunited with her mother, father, family and friends that were waiting for her in heaven.
We are grateful to know that she is at peace now.
Surviving relatives:
Juan Olmo
Alex Olmo
Lilly Pereira
Felicita Olmo
Miriam Lugo Harry
Alexandria (Sandy) Lugo
Josiah Gimenez
Christian Gimenez
Aidan Garcia
Ayin Alicea (aka. Ein Garcia)
Sea burial will be at a later date.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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