Maria L. Leocadia Macias

On behalf of our family I want to extend a warm welcome to everyone. I want to thank you for showing your support by taking time out from your busy schedules to accompany our family this evening. Thank you for the flowers, cards, phone calls, and hospital visits during my Mom's last days in the hospital. I am sure it meant an awful lot to her knowing that everyone was thinking of her at this time.

Alex, my brother told me I had only five minutes to speak, but how can I distill the life of my mother, a 90 year old woman in 5 minutes? That is impossible for me to do. So, how do I measure my mother's life? Do I do that by adding up her academic achievements, or her accumulation of worldly possessions? My mother's life was not measured by either of these. As you who knew her well know; she wasn't a materialistic person. Instead she was more than contend with who she had around her, instead of what surrounded her.

I want to summarize the kind of person she was and what she stood for. She was steadfast, warm and compassionate. It was this compassion which endeared her to everyone she came into contact with. She always went out of her way to help others. She was a proud and dignified woman who had a passion for life, and it is a great testament to her nature that she formed so many long lasting friendships over the 90 years with so many of you here today. Her integrity was never questioned, she had strong principals that she believed in and lived by. She was quiet, private and very conservative, her actions more than anything else demonstrated the person she was. She selected her friends very carefully and if you were lucky enough to be counted as one of them, then you knew you had someone you could trust and rely on.

I can tell you that she wasn't a woman of sentimental words, but I can attest to the fact that she loved people. Our Mom taught us many things as young kids that hold us in good stead today-good manners, respect and sound morale values. These teachings have made Alex, Mary and me the people that we are today, and I thank you Mom so very much for all your teachings.

Our family grew up with little money, but she saw to it that we were sheltered, dressed, fed and above all loved.

I have many fond memories of my Mom. I hold a special one very dear to my heart. When I was six years old I was taken to the doctor because I had a lot of pain in my left femur. She took me to Doctor Saenz on Buena Vista Street. He took and X-Ray and told her to rush me to the emergency room at the county hospital-Robert B. Green. There they gave her the diagnosis. I had a tumor-my left leg would have to be amputated. My Mother said, "Do not amputate, just take out the tumor, but do not amputate." For many days after the surgery she would carry me to the bus stop on Commerce and 24th Street. I remember riding the bus to and from the hospital where I would receive my radiation treatments. Before being escorted into the treatment room, she would say," Don't be scared, when they shut the door, and they lay you on the table for your treatment; just look at the little glass window on the door, and you will see my face. That was my Mother.

Her proudest moment was when Alex, my brother was named Valedictorian of his senior graduating class, and awarded several scholarships. He accepted one from U. T. Austin, and studied there several years.

Ironically her saddest, and equally proudest moment was when he made the choice, and I emphasize the word choice, to come home and assume the role as man of the home, because my stepfather and I both had taken ill and couldn't work. His choice to come home saddened my mother because she valued education. His choice to come home made her proud because he did not shy away from responsibility.

Alex has cared for Mother ever since then. He stood by her bedside and held her hand until she took her last breath. He supported her single handedly without any kind of assistance from my sister or me. Alex is the man that he is today because of my Mother. Mom we love you, and will miss you more than words can say.

I am going to read a poem written by Anon, because if my Mother could speak to us today, this is what she would say:

Don't grieve for me. for now I am free

I'm following the path that God laid for me.

I took His hand when I heard Him call;

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,

To laugh, to love, to work and play.

Tasks left undone, must stay that way.

I found that place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;

Ah yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life's been full, I savored much;

Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seems all to brief;

Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me,

God wanted me now, He set me free.

We thank everyone here tonight for coming and joining us in bidding our Mother farewell for now.