She is survived by her sisters, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and their families.
From the Philippines, California, New Jersey, Colorado, and Texas, she moved to all of these places to share her life and left a lot of priceless and beautiful memories that changed their lives.
Everyone traveling from different places to see her is a sign of God's love.
She is now on her way to meet all of her loved ones who went ahead of her
but most especially God who has a special place waiting for her, to give her rest.
First of all, on behalf of my family and myself, I would like to thank each and everyone of you for coming today. We're overwhelmed by the outpouring of your love and support. Special thank you goes out to my great and wonderful Dallas friends (you know who you are) who have been tremendous help to our family these past several days. From being our UBER services to the airport to bringing us food, flowers, plants, holding my Mom's hand or just preventing us from loosing our sanity.
You don't know my Mom
My Mom was born Dec.5, 1930 to Juan and Ambrocia Cadiente. Her father died at age 35 from Pneumonia while her Mom at 92 from old age. Her mother washed clothes for the Americans who gave her 2 bars of Ivory soap but she usually only needed one. She managed to have a small store selling unused items like the Ivory soap that the Americans gave her. Because of this, my Mom was able to go to a private grade school. During the WW II, she would watch the air strike like watching a hot air balloon.
At one point, they ended up selling their house, and before they know it, they were as poor as can be.
This didn't stop my Mom from setting a high goal for herself. She believed that poverty is not an excuse for failure but a strong motivation to succeed. She's determined to get out of this poverty the best way she knew how, obtaining an education. She managed to fend for herself at such an early age. She was a working student when she was in high school and would give her full paycheck to her mother. She had 2 sets of change clothes but she made sure her dress was always clean and iron pressed. She took summer classes so was able to finish high school in 3 years. A motto or saying stuck to her young mind that goes "Success is not measured by what you can do by what you had done to yourself." She then went to college to be a teacher and eventually obtained her Elementary Teacher's Certificate, the equivalent of Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education here. She married my Dad at age 20 and had 6 wonderful and beautiful children if I may say so myself. Later, she would work at the Bureau of Internal Revenues until the time that she went to the US in 1985 by way of my brother petitioning her.
Her first job in the US was at McDonald. Having a degree, the manager wanted her to work as a cashier but she was intimidated, afraid to mess up, having been in the US only for a short time. She ended up cleaning tables instead and didn't realize that means cleaning the parking lots as well. Every now and then, she would tell herself as she cleans the parking lot, "if my co-workers from the Internal Revenue could just see me now." She then would smile, knowing my brother would pick her up in his BMW!
During a job interview at an electronics company, she told the interviewer to give her a week to prove she can do the job. She worked hard, was a fast learner, very motivated since her goal was to send as much money as she can to her family in the Philippines. It didn't take long and she was made the team leader. She bought a brand new car that she never drove since she was busy working and didn't have time to take the actual driving test. She carpooled with a fellow Filipino co-worker whom she later encouraged to work with her on her second job so she can have a ride.
I remember my Mom saying that the first time you ask for a fish, I will give you a fish. But the second time you ask, I will show you how to fish instead. Also, whenever one of us siblings would come home and would tell her we got 100% in a test, her reaction would be " how many got 100?". She set a very high standard, always pushing us to be the better versions of ourselves.
My Mom managed to go home to the Philippines by herself almost every other year up until she was in her early 80"s.She hasn't been in the hospital till later in life. We were all delivered by midwives at home except the youngest, we call her the born free.
My Mom is a very stubborn, stoic woman. She knows more than the doctor, or she thinks she does. I would often tell her why bother going to the doctor if she won't follow the advise anyway. She would stop taking her blood pressure medicine because her blood pressure is now normal. This uncontrolled high blood pressure and diabetes put her into renal failure and eventually needing to have dialysis. When she moved in with my wonderful husband and myself, she seldom went out, saying she doesn't want people pitying her.
But these last couple of days, we saw the power of prayer.
Mom, you were very lethargic when Ashley came to visit you Friday afternoon. By this time, you were already on hospice. But even before Fr. Gil left after giving you the Last Anointing, the drastic change in you was evident. You were so alert that you managed to face time with your sister, children and grandchildren even those in the Philippines. You said your goodbyes and even till the end still trying to give some advise. Then you went back to barely speaking.
Considering you're the Matriarch of our family, it was hard to see how weak and frail you had been these past couple of weeks. It was hard to see role reversal at full display, from spoon feeding you,to giving you a bath to even just combing your hair.
THANK YOU Mom for giving me the opportunity to be both your daughter and your nurse even if it's just for a short time. Being in these 2 roles was hard for me. It was hard as a daughter because I love you so much and I don't want to loose you. Was hard as a nurse because I know exactly what would happen once you stopped your dialysis, having been given one week by the doctor and because I know how uncomfortable you can be. THANK YOU for being the glue that held our family together. THANK YOU for being the rock, so strong and determined. But most of all, THANK YOU for your unconditional love and support.
Till the end, I know you were still thinking how we all will be. You were very restless (just like our alcoholic patients on withdrawals) It was not till my siblings and myself told you, that you can go, that it's ok, we will be ok, even the rest of the family not here yet will be ok, that you calmed down. On your last minute here on earth, we noticed you managed to remove your left arm under the covers and slowly raised it up towards your chest. Each one of us gave you a hug, then you were gone. We know you're at peace and we will be too knowing you're in a much better place than any of us will ever be here on earth. We love you very much and will miss you. Until we see you again.
Nita
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