On my mom's side of the family, her parents and all of their siblings are long gone from this world. Her dad was born in 1900...her mom in 1905. My Mom's father died when I was in high school; her mom died when I was in college. I have many fond memories of visiting them in the summers of my childhood. They were ranchers. It was a different life.
What brought this all to mind? The last of my father's paternal aunts passed away this weekend. She was 96. On my dad's side, there's one person left from his parents' generation: his mom. His father passed away when I was a baby. I don't remember him. I've seen photos of him and it looks like I inherited his teeth. He had a gap between his two front teeth. I used to have a gap between mine. But, in 9th grade, one of my front teeth was knocked out in a stupid floor hockey accident. So, when I got a new tooth, the gap disappeared. I talk to my grandmother 4 or 5 times a week and visit her once a year. She lives in New Mexico. She turned 91 in December. And, she lived on her own into her 90th year. She's a little bitty thing. She's something fierce, though. Nobody's ever gotten away with anything when she was around.
Ah well. Here's the obituary for my great-aunt Maria:
Aragon, NM -- Maria C. Aragon, 96, a resident of Albuquerque passed away on May 31, 2008, at home with her loving family at her side. Mrs. Aragon is survived by her children, Patricio Aragon and wife, Rosie, Victor Aragon and wife, Virginia, Alberto Aragon and wife, Alicia, Emma Montoya and husband, Valentin, Theresa Sanchez and husband, Patricio, Tobias Vicente Aragon and wife, Katherine, Amalia Mora and husband, George, Grace Price and husband, Robert, Benito Aragon and wife, Paula; a very dear friend, John Paul Stein; her sisters-in-law, Frances Castillo and Severa Aragon; 44 grandchildren; 73 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Mrs. Aragon was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Vicente Aragon; her daughter, Bertha Aragon; and many other loving family members; Mrs. Aragon was a member of the Catholic Church, St. Edwin Catholic Church, the Sacred Heart Society, the Legion of Mary and the Miraculas Medal Society. Visitation will be Tuesday evening, June 3, 2008 from 6:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at St. Edwin Catholic Church, 2105 Barcelona SW with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. by Father Bill Sanchez. Final visitation will be Wednesday at the Church from 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 9:00 a.m., Father Bill Sanchez, presider. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Bernadette Gutierrez, Richard Aragon, Aileen Aragon, Val Montoya, Mark Villegas, Vicent Aragon, Steven Mora, Vicent Price, and Loretta Aragon.
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