Part II

And she would talk to me every night, even as a married man, to give me advice, help me figure out life, and just see how I was doing. And when I got married and had kids, SOMEHOW, even though it doesn’t seem physically possible, her love grew and spread to them. She showered Lindsey with so much love that Lindsey counted her among her best friends. She watched each of my newborn kids every day for months after Lindsey ended her maternity leave just so they didn’t have to start daycare so young, and as they grew older she would pick them up from school early with my dad just so they could spend the afternoon with them. She would watch them when they were sick. She would attend any and all school events. She would go to dance recitals, swim class, and ball games. And even when she got really sick, she still found a way to come to Sam’s baseball games and sit in the car and watch from the parking lot. 

My mom recently told me that one of the things she would miss most out of everything if God called her to heaven would be not being able to see her grandkids reach milestones like first communions, graduations, and weddings because she wanted to be there to support them and celebrate their joy. How can you not love someone like that?! How can you not love someone that showered you with so much love that you felt as though their entire life revolved around yours. I told my mom recently, I hope that one day my kids feel about me the way I feel about you. Which brings me back to the question I’ve been trying to answer all along. How do I honor someone like that? And now I realize my mom started giving me that answer the day I was born. And so mom, how will I honor you? By sharing the lifetime of love you have given me with those that I love. Te quiero mucho mama. Con todo mi Corazon. 


A Tribute to My Mother, 8/28/20
Part I

It’s hard to come up here and try to sum up what my mom means to me. To try to put into words what a person of my mom’s quality means to me. To express how much I love her. And so, I find it difficult to answer the question: How do I honor her? 

Well, to get some help, I looked back at some videos of this past Mother’s Day. This year for Mother’s Day, my kids filled out one of those kids’ questionnaires that asks you to answer questions about your grandmother, or in our case Abuela. Sam started it off by saying that Abuela was 100 years old. Ellie said she was 16, and Emma said she was 8. Some other things they mentioned were that she was a good cook, and they loved when she made salpicon or arroz con chorizo.  They also said she was funny, pretty and a good singer. But the one thing that sticks out to me is that when asked what was HER favorite thing to do, they all said her favorite thing was to play with them. And although that may seem simple enough, I think it best sums up how I think of my mom. As someone who lived for her family. 

You see, I’m the youngest child, her baby.  I’ve grown up feeling like I was her entire world. But when I think about it and the more I’ve talked to my brothers over the past few months, I realize that they feel as though they were mom’s entire world too. And that’s because she gave ALL of us SO much love. And I don’t mean just her telling us how much she loved us, but how she showed us in our everyday lives. I mean, my mom would put out one fine china place setting on my birthday so that I could feel special on that day. She would wait up when I would go out with my friends just because she wanted to make sure I got home safe. She would cook for my family even though we didn’t have plans to pass by just in case we did so that we would have something to eat and make things easier for us. 


Mama, I have often thought of the many things that I did not understand as a child or even as a young adult that I came to truly grasp now that I am entrenched in fatherhood. Now I see your point of view as I was growing up. I see the daily sacrifices, the rules that needed to be enforced that I did not want to follow, the worry that only a parent knows as his child is exposed to the perils of the world, the tears of pride in the presence of your child’s successes, the love that is felt from the depth of your heart that is felt for your child. 

I see mama. I see. I also see you, a woman whose body is weak from a difficult illness, but whose spirit is stronger than ever. I see you a woman of true strength, elegance and grace. Today I celebrate your motherhood. Gracias Mama, I love you.

Con todo mi amor tu hijo, 

Juan Jose

I wrote this note to my mother for her last Mother's Day.

Hay muchos atributos y cualidades que me vienen a la mente cuando pienso en mi madre.

Ella era:

Bondadosa y desinteresada
-Era extremadamente considerada con los demás, por lo que estaba en sintonía con las heridas y necesidades de los demás
-ella no asumía mucho, siempre estaba preparada
-uno de sus grandes placeres era leer, le encantaba leer
-Era sabia, siempre parecía tener las palabras adecuadas en el momento adecuado

Y aquellos que realmente la conocieron saben que sinceramente podría enumerar muchas otras cualidades.

Pero independientemente de cualquier cualidad o atributo, su fuerza provenía de su Dios. Y digo su Dios porque su relación con Dios era personal. Ella no solo conocía de Jesús, conocía y amaba a Jesús la Persona.


-menos de dos semanas antes de su muerte, estaba yo sentado con ella en su sala y se veía tan frágil y era obvio que el final estaba cerca. Me puse a pensar que mis conversaciones con ella estaban contadas. En ese momento me pregunte cual es la pregunta mas importante que ella quisiera que yo supiera antes de su muerte. Entonces le pregunté "¿cuál es el secreto para ser un buen Cristiano?" 

Y ella me contesto “El ejemplo de los padres”. Con esas pocas palabras ella básicamente me dijo, como yo te he dado mi ejemplo en la vida así debes hacerlo tú también con tus hijos.

Recordándome la gran responsabilidad que es ser padre y la manera correcta de hacerlo.

Gracias mamá por tu ejemplo como madre y como Cristiana.

-Continuaré aprendiendo de ti porque seguiré meditando tus palabras en mi corazón por el resto de mi vida.

-Te extrañaré
-Extrañaré tu dulzura
-Extrañaré  tu gracia
-Extrañaré nuestras pequeñas conversaciones 
-Extrañaré tu comida
-Extrañaré tu sabiduría
-Extrañaré tu dulce abrazo
-pero no extrañaré tu amor, porque siempre estará conmigo


Eulogy for My Mother, 8/28/20

There are many attributes and qualities that come to mind when I think of my mother. 

She was:

-kind and selfless
-she was extremely considerate of others, so in tune to others hurts and needs
-she didn’t assume much, she was always prepared
-one of her great joys was reading, she loved to read
-she was wise, she always seemed to have the right words at the right moment

And those that really knew her know that I could sincerely list many other qualities. 

But regardless quality or attribute, her strength came from her God. And I say her God because her relationship with God was a personal one. She did not only know about Jesus, she knew and loved Jesus the Person. 


-less than two weeks before her death, I was sitting with her in her living room and she looked so frail and it was obvious that the end was near. So I knew that my conversations with her were counted. So I asked myself, what is the one question that she would want me to know before her passing. So I asked her “what is the secret to being a good Christian?” And she said  in Spanish “El ejemplo de los padres” which translates to “A parents example”. With those few words she basically told me, as I have given you my example in life so you must also do with your children.

Reminding me of the great responsibility it is to be a parent and the proper way to go about it.

Thank you Mom for your example as a parent and as a Christian. 

-I will continue to learn from you as I will ponder your words in my heart for the rest of my life.

-I will miss you
-I will miss your gentleness 
-I miss your graceful nature
-I will miss our little talks
-I will miss your food 
-I will miss your wisdom
-I will miss your sweet embrace  
-but I will not miss your love, because it will always be with me


Elizabeth! 

A year since your passing, and I’m still remembering you. Quite and always with a smile open to listen and to help. I know your family is missing you too. Enjoying Our  Lord and His Mother our Lady forever 🙏🙏🙏

On the anniversary of her departure to the House of the Lord, our thoughts and remembrance are with Elizabeth. - Juan Jose: Un abrazo de parte nuestra.


Juan,
I am sorry for your loss, I have no words, all I can say is that she now Rest In Peace, May Go give you and your family strength to endure your pain!
My deepest condolences!

Juan,

Sorry for your loss.    Please accept my condolences to you and your family.   The video was very special.  It is obvious from all the pictures together how close you all are.  Your wife will be missed but that big family is there for you.  I always joked with you about always being on vacation but I'm so glad you were able to take them with Elizabeth when you could.  Take care.

Juan
Please accept our sincere condolences pal, God bless and wish you good health.
I've had the respectful experience of working for and with you at Jefferson Parish and am sorry for your loss.
Sincerely

Daloss  Falghou


Con mucho pesar en nuestro corazón sentimos la partida de Elizabeth, nuestro sentido pésame al Compadre y resto de la familia por su fallecimiento.  
Ella ya está descansando en la casa del Padre!

Mi sentido pésame a toda la familia por la partida de mi madrina Elizabeth a la casa del Padre y pidiéndole a Dios fortaleza y consuelo para todos. 🙏🏻

Familia:

Acompañandoles en estos dificiles momentos. El Señor la tenga en sus santas manos, les de la fortaleza y resignacion para llevar este dolor.
Un abrazo,

Adan y Maria Haydee Molina

Juan José y familia, 
Almína y familia 
Reciban mis mas sentidas condolencias por la partida de la linda y dulce Elizabeth  a quien 
recuerdo de mis años en LA.  Fue linda, paciente y  dulce, magnifica profesional, tuve la suerte de conocerla donde la Dra  Blasini.  Juan José , tu perdida es inmensa pero  nuestro  buen Dios se la llevó en justa reclamación de lo que es suyo.  Para ti, Almina  y toda la familia Un fuerte abrazo desde  California desde donde les digo:  Presente.  En el cielo hay  fiesta por ese Ángel que llegó . Descansa en Paz Elizabeth.

Juan José, Almina, Chilo y demás familia, aquí acompañándoles en su gran pérdida. Elizabeth voló alto. Se nos adelantó.  Dios en su misericordia la recibió con los brazos abiertos.  Un abrazo bien fuerte. No puedo acompañarlos en mi persona, pero sí con mis oraciones.  La familia Chacón-Padilla desea mucha paz en sus corazones y fe.  Ya se saludan allá con Tito. Ya están paseando en la Jerusalen celestial. 


Cuanto lo siento! Cuando pienso en ella veo a una bella persona con un semblante de paz, siempre con esa sutil sonrisa para todos. Inspiraba paz. Un honor haberla conocido y trabajar con ella y Eddy en Mensaje.  Que Dios la tenga en su gloria! 

Siempre recordaremos a Elizabeth como una persona de bien y extraordinariamente entregada al Señor. Tuvimos la honra de ser parte del comité  de la Purísima en la Iglesia de San Jerónimo y todos los años se esmeraba haciendo el ayote en miel y ayudando a preparar los nacatamales para la celebracion de la Purísima.

Elizabeth ! I will never forget your Pleasant Face . I always remember how you adored your family . Heaven gained a perfect angel . My Prayers for your Husband and family to get through the most difficult time without you not being with them . My sincere sympathy to all family . 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 Prayers . 

Saroja 

Dear Elizabeth’s family,

To hear about her  passing brought tears to my eyes. I met such a beautiful and kind woman many years ago, and will never forget the impression she made on me.

Elizabeth , you will be greatly missed by your husband, children and the rest of your family, and  by your friends.

That Our Lord and His Mother welcome you into heaven with open arms!

Sincerely,

Marla Donovan

I met Elizabeth many years ago in Nicaragua through her sister Almina, married to my then brother-in-law, Isidro.  She always had a beautiful smile lighting her face. Soft spoken and kind, Elizabeth was a pleasure to be around. My sincere condolences to her husband, Juan, her children,  siblings, grandchildren and rest of her family and friends.  Elizabeth is now in the presence of her Creator, who welcomes those he loves with open arms and  will forever live in the hearts of all who loved her. God bless

So saddened by the news of Mama Eli’s passing.  Her memory will always be a treasure in our hearts.

I knew her as Mama Eli, a second mother to so many of us. She was the kindest woman you could ever have the honor of meeting. Never one to shy away from giving you a bear hug that made you feel like you were truly safe. Eli always praised and admonished you when you needed it. My love for her is only second to my own mother, and I have always considered her boys as my brothers. I miss you Mama.

Love ,
Danny

OBITUARY

Elizabeth "Eli" Blandino Gutierrez

August 15, 1950 – August 24, 2020

Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services