Maria Carmen Suarez

Maria Carmen Suarez Luna aka La Chinita was born January 31st 1922 in Mexico City, Mexico. She was the fourth child and had 7 siblings: Dolores aka La Gordita born 1912, Jose aka El Aplastado born 1914, Maria Del Refugio aka Cuca born 1920, Remedio born 1928, Marciano aka El Toro Matador born 1930, Conception aka la Tolucena born 1932, and Leon aka el Loco born 1934. She was blessed to live through four generations and was the last of all her siblings to leave Earth. She has 2 first cousins who are still alive and reside in Chicago. Their names are Mercedes Pavon and Esther Diaz. Through good times and bad Ma Chinita and her cousins remained true to each other. Whether it was afternoon phone calls, or breakfast/lunch dates, or shopping or keeping each company and demonstrating support at the hospital they were always there for each other. Ma Chinita left 12 nieces and nephews behind: Silvia (Cuca’s daughter), Carlos and Lupe (Reme’s children), Margarita, Francisco, Leon, Rey, Cesar, and Nestor (Leon’s children), Mario (Jose’s son), Carmela and Jose Luis (Concha’s children). When Silvia heard about her aunt’s critical condition she left her home in California and headed to Chicago to take care of her only aunt. She stood side by side with Ma Chinita for the last 4 days of Ma Chinita’s life. The loyalty this family demonstrates to each other is like no other!

In 1949 Ma Chinita married Pedro Gutierrez Pulido and after losing 3 children at birth her long desire for motherhood became a reality. On October 4th, 1953 her first son Gerardo Gutierrez was born. One year later on November 5th, 1954 she was blessed with her second son Francisco Javier Marciano. In 1968 she separated from her husband and started her journey as a single mom. Never again did she remarry; her entire life was devoted to her children and to God. Although Ma Chinita struggled through her marriage, her separation, and her early years as a single mother I believe she was very happy with the outcome.

On August 26th 1974 she took her two sons and left for Chicago to start a brand new life. Two years later she decided to move back to Mexico but by 1979 she found herself back in Chicago where her son Marciano had stayed alone on a school scholarship. For the next decade she continued to go back and forth between both sons, both countries until 1990 when she finally settled and made Chicago her new home. For the next 21 years Ma Chinita lived with her son Marciano and her daughter in law Elvia. She had 4 grandchildren in Chicago who she played a big role in raising: Michelle 32 years old, Vanessa 31 years old, Erica 28 years old, and Andy 20 years old. In addition she had 8 great grandkids who she also helped raise: Khaila 15 yrs old, Ayana 13 yrs old, Giselle 11 yrs old, Daisy 10 yrs old, Marcel 3 yrs old, Mason 1yr old, and Leila 2 months old. Back in Mexico Ma Chinita had 3 grandchildren from her son Gerardo and daughter in law Rosario: Eduardo 24 yrs old, Gerardito 20 yrs old, and Mari Carmen 19 years old. This was her family…..we were her world and she was ours.

I seriously believe that Ma Chinita thought her purpose in this life was to love and nourish others. She was the most loving, patient and kind hearted woman. She always had a hot meal ready for us when we came home from school, and she did the same for our children. She taught some of us how to cook, pray, sew, the importance of church and God and how to us value our parents. Then she passed the same values to our children as well. It is un-describable how such a petite woman can give so much. When we would tell her to sit down and rest she would respond that she would rest in heaven and continue. Through her charismatic ways she became a grandma figure to so many people and earned everyone’s respect and appreciation. Ma Chinita was not just our grandma she was our foundation. She was part of every family vacation, every celebration, every family meeting, she was part of our every day life.

Truthfully we can not complain. God gave us many years and tons of beautiful memories next to her and we are grateful for that privilege. She left us a wonderful father whose heart is as golden as hers. “For the past 21 years my routine has been to wake up, sneak into my mom’s room for a kiss and a blessing before heading to work, make a quick phone call at lunch time to hear her voice and know she is ok, and coming home from work to call her name as I walk through the door….”viejita ya llege.” I’m not sure what the hardest part of coping with death is. Whether it is seeing the person you love suffering and feeling helpless, holding her on her bedside knowing you only have a few minutes left with her, or dealing with the separation. How do we as mothers help our children heal their broken, confused little hearts when we ourselves have not mended? No matter what people say I don’t think anyone is ever ready to say goodbye.

On November 1st God fulfilled my dad’s birthday wish and put an end to her pain and suffering. It had not been easy to see such a pure and genuine good woman lay helplessly calling God and our Angel Christian to come for her. I find it so amazing that even at her fragile condition Ma Chinita gathered every bit of strength left in her to assure us she was in good hands and that our beloved family angel Christian was going to show her the way to heaven where I’m sure many happily awaited her. This is an example of how strong and nurturing Ma Chinita was that she did not want to go and leave us worried.

Of all the grandkids it was very clear that Ma Chinita developed an unbreakable bond with Andy; he was her passion in life. She raised him and saw him grow from an infant to a teenager into a young man. As she breathed her last, for she was dying she mumbled Andy’s name in desperation. And Andy who was leaning over her body told her something that touched her deeply. He whispered “This is not goodbye grandma, I will see you again. En el Reino de Dios nos vamos a volver a ver.” Immediately after Andy told her this grandma began to slowly pucker her lips to give him a kiss and then left us.

“There is nothing like a mother’s love. To me and to most who met her, my grandma was like a mother and I will miss her forever. The Lord took her on All Saints Day and she truly is a Saint. No longer must she suffer and someday we will meet again grandma.” You are loved and missed by many.

Today we checked in to the Funeral Home to make sure everything is going perfect for your big day. After looking at a couple different places I think we found the one. Grandma would like it there and I trust she is in good hands. I hope that you are pleased with the clothes we chose grandma, with the color on your nails, your lipstick and the perfume we picked especially for you. I know that you would never want anyone to see you unless your hair looked perfect…I hope I picked the right hair color for your taste. I wanted to make sure you look perfect as you always did. I just want you to know that you are our queen and hold a very special place in our family and in our hearts.