Maria T. Tarango

Writing about family is not easy, especially when it's about mom. You see, mom passed away on September 07, 2012. The following day my sister, niece and I met with the funeral director for burial arrangements. Thankfully, my sisters and I had started a buriel fund to prepare for the event. During the conference, the Funeral Director wanted to know what mom was like?" There was no easy respon...se because we were dealing with a life chonology of 90 years. The task of capsulizing one's character and personality in a life time is not easy. But if I had to, I would have to say that mom's greatest attribute or character flaw, however one looks at it, was her inability to say no to friends and relatives, in desperate need of help. As a result, as far back as I can remember, she was constantly being taken advantage of by the homeless, those lacking a program of sobriety, and anyone with a sad storey (probably fabricated).

Mom, Maria Trinidad Reyes Urestes, was born in Port Lavaca, Texas. Her mother, Maria Urestes- Jaramillo, my grandmother, was born in victoria Texas. And her father, Ricado Reyes, was from Tula, Taumalipas, Mexico. What prompted the migation to California, I do not know. They appeared to have settled in San Bernardino, where my great grandfather, Francisco Reyes worked on the railroad, and in a local markets close to Mitla's cafe off 5th & Mt. Vernon.

Mom and many of her siblings attended grammer school in the Barrio situated close to Mt. Vernon Avenue, in San Bernardio. Her education lasted only 6 years. In both of our families, books and education were never a priority. It was all about work, work, and more work to help supportt the family.

The Reyes were a robust family of 18 children. As a kid, I recall working the migrant trail along their side with my brother's and sisters. Their were 7 of us. During the course of my migrant education, I beleive I must have attended a minimum 19 different schools. It seems like we were moving every 3-6 months. She must have dreaded it more than we did. But that was the nature of the beast and we marched on. While in her late 40's or early 50's, she met and married a good man; victor Tarango. Vic retired, as a civilian mechanic at Norton Air Force base. He introduced stability into my mother's life. Thank God for Vic. My mom died having know stability and peace.

Maria Triniday Reyes -Urestes April 5, 2012-September 12, 2012

may she rest in peace

P.S. Before she died, I told her I would eventually meet her in the left side of the big sky. She told me she would be having tea at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Table.