Helen E. Esquivel Hurtado

Our mother Helen (Belen) E. Hurtado was called to Heaven at the age of 95. She was a beautiful woman inside and out. Mom was a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. Our family will miss her very much. Mom was born in El Paso, Texas February 4, 1920. She came from humble beginnings and lived so all her life. Mother married in her teens to the love of her life, our dad Jose Lino Hurtado. Their beautiful union lasted 52 years.

Mother was a member of the Greatest Generation which represents those who survived the Great Depression and World War II. She believed in personal responsibility, respect for others and hard work. Mother worked in the fish canneries in Monterey during the war and for years worked in many produce canneries across Santa Clara County. Occasionally mother’s work day included two eight hour shifts at different cannery locations. At times she cleaned homes during the day and worked in the cannery at night. She was an amazingly strong woman even in her last days of life.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Phillipians 4:13

Sweet Memories

As a young mother, mom was like a mother hen taking care of her little chicks. She cared about our health, education and our faith. Mother loved to sing and dance around our home. We would come home from school and often find mom dancing while ironing and watching the Dick Clark Show. Mother liked all genres of music. She loved to garden, go bowling, watch roller derby and play Chinese checkers. Mother was witty and had a great sense of humor. She loved to watch the early comedy shows.

As a young woman mother had a beautiful singing voice that stood out when she sang in church. Late in life mother would attend the weekly services of the visiting church at Woodlands Health Care Center where she was a resident for almost 7 years. The church leader and residents looked forward to hearing mother’s beautiful voice as they sang God’s praises. Mother loved to play Scrabble. She played just about every day with family and care givers. She also played Bingo at Woodlands until her health declined, making it difficult for her to play the game. The last few years of mom’s life brought her much joy to reflect and talk about her youth, her parents, siblings and her children. Those were very special moments our family will always cherish.

Let all that you do be done with love.

Corinthians 16:14

On A Spiritual Level

Mother believed that as a Christian mother, it was her duty to nurture and guide her family to Jesus Christ. In the 1970’s mother became a “born again Christian”. From that point on, her faith deepened and became unshakeable. There was new meaning to her life. That solid foundation helped her through the serious health challenges that came late in life. Mother was genuinely concerned for the spiritual welfare of her family and others. She knew that God’s hand was at work in her life and as time went by she knew He was working in the lives of her family. Mother believed in the power of prayer and impressed that belief in her family. We loved to pray with mom. She prayed beautifully from her heart and with conviction. Mother recited scripture effortlessly even late in life when her memory was fading. It was really amazing to witness.

The bible has many examples of women whom God used late in life. God used mother at Woodlands Healthcare Center. Confined to a wheel chair and often bedridden, mother still had important work to do. She fulfilled God’s calling as a good Christian even in her own hours of weakness as she dealt with debilitating illnesses. Staff members would visit mother, they’d pray together and listen to mom’s Christian music. They were so impressed and touched by her faith in God, they would ask her for prayer. God used mother even to her last breath. She was an inspiration to her family and all who knew her, as we witnessed mother softly praying and singing God’s praises, just days before her passing.

I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother…..and in your mother….and I am persuaded now lives in you also.

2 Timothy 1:5

Mother’s Journey Home to Heaven

Long before mother’s health took a serious downturn, mother’s mind was on going Home. She knew the greatest triumph was yet to come. Mother firmly believed that victory over death was to bring her in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ eternally and she would have a new and joyous life. Mother looked forward to that day and yearned to be reunited with our father Jose, her parents and siblings. Heaven was mother’s hope, her future and at last, it is her Home. Our family celebrates mother’s new life in heaven. We are forever grateful to the good Lord that our mother and father left our family the legacy of their character and their faith.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

Revelations 21:4