Helen M. Mendoza

To us, Mom was our guiding light. She set the example of what a good wife, mother and friend should be. Although our mother was chronically ill most of her life, she always did her best to be patient with all of us. She tried to carve out some quality time with each of us. She was a mother who gave us discipline and love. As for her life with Dad, she set a shining example of the kind of unconditional love required to see a marriage through good times and bad. She was a good wife who loved her husband very much and loved keeping a nice home for him. Our mom enjoyed going to all the family functions, holiday get togethers and parties that came along.

Helen was a wonderful and loving grandmother. She was devoted to her grandchildren and enjoyed spending lots of quality time with them, spoiling them with her love. Helen spent countless hours playing with her grandchildren; whether it was playing store with her fake fruit decorations or Barbie dolls, or sitting outside watching them run through the sprinklers. She would stay up late with her grandchildren during the many, many sleepovers, sitting side by side doing crossword puzzles, watching novellas (Spanish soap operas) together that she would have to translate. She would let them play with all her jewelry, play dress up, she taught them how to sew & crochet. She would spoil them with sweet treats right before bed, like a snickers bar or ice cream, as long as it was followed by a glass of water! She always knew how to make you feel so special and so loved. She had a way of making every moment count, giving us countless precious memories with her.

Over the last few years we saw her health deteriorate. Her memory would come and go, left us wondering if she recognized us. Though it all you could still see the love she had for her children and most of all the love she had for her husband Luis. Helen was an amazing woman who left a big imprint on so many hearts, which is why she will be so missed.