Sunday, August 24, 2008

Rest in Peace Ramona

February 18, 1931-August 19, 2008 ~ Ramona Nolasco, cousin and Godmother to me. Devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-n-law, grandmother, aunt, good neighbor, artist, long standing member of the Women's Guild of Our Lady Of Fatima Catholic Church. What a big heart, generous, quick witted, smart, sensible...deceased, yet the goodness, love and all the lively memories remain. What a great role model she was for many, not just for women but a great example of what a good person is all about. She was a solid citizen and contributing, upstanding member of society. She had good common sense with a really sharp sense of humor, practicality was also part of her arsenal of qualities and she will be missed tremendously.

Ramona succumbed to complications of Parkinson's disease. She gave it a good fight after several years. The last time I saw her was around Christmas, 2007. I pulled out a beautiful ceramic nativity set she made for me some years ago. The set included the three wise men, a camel, donkey, little drummer boy and of course Joseph and Mary with Baby Jesus. I had to see Ramona to thank her and remind her of that nativity set she made me and how beautiful it looked on my shelf in the entertainment center. When I saw her it was a shock, I knew she was ill with Parkinson's but to know what type of women she was for all those years, strong, exuberant, so active and involved with life and seemed to make every moment count. She kept an organized, neat and very cozy home and now to see her so physically incapacitated, it was heart wrenching to say the least.

She will be missed. Her grandchildren, particularly Camille, Allice and Rudy (Tripper) were awesome as they stepped-in and made sure they could help their precious Grandmother during the last couple of years and covered every detail imaginable to comfort her and make life manageable. It's pretty amazing, the level of support, especially Camille, showed during the hardest days, what a true testimony to the love and devotion a grandchild or any child can have for their aging and ailing loved one.

There are some people who you see next to never yet you know will be there no matter what, special or sad times, celebrations and such. It's a given. Even earlier today talking to one of my sisters she automatically included Ramona while mentioning the people who are invited to join us in celebrating my Mothers 83rd birthday next week. It's an automatic, knee jerk type-thing. And now Romona has transitioned on into what I believe is a better place...peaceful, powerful, perfect, a place of privilege and with her daughter Renee who preceeded Ramona in death several years ago due to an illness that took her life quickly. That really knocked alot of wind out of Ramona and maybe the heart break and headache of Rene's death somehow triggered the Parkinson's. We'll never know. It doesn't matter. Ramona will be thought of endearingly and loved forever by those of us whose lives she touched and impressed with her goodness and presence while living out all of her days and nights in this world.

We love you Ramona!
Sincerely,
Mary Ellen

2 comments:

Joyous said...

So sorry to hear of your loss.

Mary Ellen Ipiotis 'BrunodeLaRoza' said...

Compassion is so tender and so appreciated. Thank you friend.