Candelaria Rosales Grady

It is with a heavy heart to share the loss of our mother Candelaria Grady, “Candy” to most who knew her. A very beautiful woman, witty at times, loving always, with a strong character and hard working.

Not only was she a wife (widowed 5 years ago), mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, friend and neighbor to so many but, a woman of strong conviction, faith with an unconditional love for her children and family.

Born an Otomi native Mexican Indian from the mountainous region of Michoacan, central Mexico, she travelled at an early age to Mexico’s eastern region of Esperanza, Obregon where she grew up with her parents and two brothers, Fermin and Luis. At this time her father left the family to fight in the Mexican Revolution. Unfortunately, soon after their arrival, her mother passed away leaving our mother in charge of her two brothers whom she cared and protected for many years. While living in Esperanza, Obregon, she had her first of six children and first of five daughters “Julia.” She left her partner and travelled with Julia and brothers to Tijuana, MX, where on a blind date she met our father “Tomas.” Funny how things work out. My father from Manchester, New Hampshire who only spoke English and our mother who only spoke Spanish hit it off. They were married for sixty years and had five children: Lulu, Patty, Theresa, Tommy and Carleen as well our eldest sister Julia.

Her passion and focus were her family. Even with a large family she had many past-times. She was an excellent cook especially at Mexican cooking; however, she mastered every American dish she attempted. For many years there was always an amazing meal on the table, at 5:30 to be exact, when our father arrived home from work. The times we all shared at the dinner table will always be remembered. Anyone who was lucky enough to taste her dishes will miss her cooking tremendously. She really had the best reputation for being a very fine cook and we will never be able to count the number of tortillas or tamales she made over her 90 years! Not only did she find time to always have food on the stove, but she also grew and maintained a wonderful garden of plants, cacti, fruit trees and flowers.

Another passion of hers was sewing. She sewed many of our school clothes as we were growing up. She also invested a lot of time sewing flamenco dance dresses for many years then as time passed, making blankets, aprons and bibs for her children and grandchildren. We always looked forward to her sewn Christmas gifts! She received many compliments for her choice of bright colors, patterns and workmanship.

Mom was quite a music lover and dancer. She loved to sing too when she was younger. She taught us how to enjoy ourselves through Mexican music, dance and Mexican culture. She was a good dancer and fun when the party started!

She was always ready to travel, even if it was on our weekly Sunday drives, which were obligatory until she was no longer able. With our father she travelled throughout Mexico and the United States. She made many road trips across the nation visiting famous landmarks, national parks, major cities, vacationing in Florida, Texas and northern California. Something she never thought would happen to her or that should would see and travel to was Europe which she visited several times either with her immediate family: my father, her children and or grandchildren but also journeyed alone several times to care and visit her grandchildren living in Barcelona, Spain.

Later in life she would tell us that as a child she didn’t even know where the United States was. She said she never imagined that she would live in such a beautiful place and be able to raise her family in a country she grew to love. She was grateful for the life she was given.

Mom was a faith inspired person. Saying her rosary every morning for years on end. She enjoyed reading religious books, pamphlets, prayers and watching movies like “The Ten commandments”, “Moses” and any Disney movie.

Mom loved to read in general. For many years she didn’t watch television, primarily because she didn’t have time, however, she always found time to read. She continually worked on improving her English skills by reading. She was never shy about speaking English as she learned! She loved cookbooks, she collected them and spent many hours reading them.

We will honor our mother for instilling in us a hard work ethic, the ideal of not giving up when things don’t go one’s way, her appreciation of nature, especially for her love of birds and all animals. (Although as she got older, she no longer wanted to have pets.) We will miss our mother, her smile, her toughness, her sayings like: “como un tlacuache (opossum)” or “let’s go kittycats”, her bad words in Spanish, seeing her wearing red lipstick and so much more.

Thank you for your prayers. She is surrounded by those who she loved. She went peacefully.

May she always be in your hearts as she is in ours.