Carmen Montez Vasquez

I am incredibly lucky to say that my grandmother was a part of my life. She taught me to value my education and to love my family and while these are very important aspects of my life, the little things about my grandmother are what I will cherish the most.

Grandma was there to take me to school with Pop every morning. She was there when I didn't want to leave my room or when I was scared because I "couldn't find my line". When we were home sick she would bring us McDonald's and watch Days of Our Lives or the Price is Right. She bundled up to watch countless baseball games and sporting events and she was proud of us regardless of the outcome. She was proud of us when we succeeded in school and it made her so happy to see us win academic awards.

The one thing I will remember about my grandma the most is her love for butterflies. She had butterflies everywhere and she would always share them with me. She loved that such tiny and simple insects could be so beautiful. Our love for butterflies led me to discover a quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne and every time I see it I think of her, "Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."

Donations in memory of Carmen may be made to firstgiving.com/carmenvasquez. For more information on Huntington's Disease Society of America, go to www.hdsa.org.

Arrangements under the direction of Draper Mortuary, Ontario, CA.