Rina "Noy" Leonor Vizcarra Herrera

Today, we celebrate the beautiful life of my mom, Leonor - but to almost everyone who knew and loved her, she was simply Noy.

It is hard to put into words what she meant to all of us. She wasn’t just the heart of our family; she had a way of making everyone she met feel like family. If you knew Noy, you knew her smile. It was contagious. You couldn’t help but smile back. She had a warmth about her that made people feel welcome, loved, and seen.

My mom loved the simple but beautiful things in life. She loved flowers, talking on the phone with her friends and family for hours, cooking big meals that brought everyone together, and she never left the house without looking her absolute best. From her matching clothes and shoes to her accessories and makeup, she carried herself with confidence and elegance. She believed every day was worth showing up for.

One of the things I’ll always remember is that whenever one of us got sick, she would make her famous Salvadoran chicken soup. Somehow, it always made us feel better. Looking back now, I realize it wasn’t just the soup - it was her love. She had a way of taking care of people that made them feel safe.

She also had the most unforgettable laugh. She celebrated everything. The smallest moments became the biggest occasions because of her excitement. She could turn an ordinary day into something special simply by the way she reacted. Her joy was contagious, and her laughter filled every room she entered.

And if there was a soccer game on, everyone knew exactly where Noy would be. She watched every match with so much passion and excitement that you couldn’t help but cheer right along with her. She reminded us that it’s okay to celebrate, to get excited, and to enjoy life’s moments with your whole heart.

The greatest lesson my mom taught us wasn’t through words. She taught us through the way she lived. She showed us that love is expressed through caring for others, sharing meals, making people laugh, celebrating life’s little victories, and always making time for family.

Today, our hearts are broken because saying goodbye to someone like Noy feels impossible. But even though she is no longer here with us physically, her love lives on. It lives on every time we cook a meal for someone we love, every time we stop to admire a beautiful flower, every time we celebrate life’s little moments, and every time we hear a soccer game in the background and think of her cheering from the couch.

Mom, thank you for every meal you cooked, every hug you gave, every laugh you shared, and every sacrifice you made for our family. Thank you for showing us what unconditional love looks like. We will miss your smile, your laughter, your phone calls, your excitement, and the joy you brought into our lives every single day.

Although our hearts ache today, we find comfort knowing that love like yours never truly leaves us. It continues through your children, your family, your friends, and everyone whose life you touched.

Thank you for being our mom, our friend, grandmother, and our greatest blessing.

We love you, mom.

And we always will.

Services will be held at Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home, details listed below.