~~ My Aunt Nena (Juliana) passed last February 20, 2014 but her spirit lives on. She helped raise me, and without her in my life, I would not be the person I am today. I may not physically delivered my eulogy but I want to honor the woman who bravely fight the battle against cancer.
There are no words that greatly describe to who my Aunt was and what she instilled in my life as well as the lives of many who knew her. I am convinced that whatever I am , whatever I am to become, I owe those who left an imprint in my life and one particular person is my Aunt Nena who we usually called MANEN helped enriched and refined my life.
As a child I remember going home every night to her house with our backpacks and school uniforms. I grew up having two
houses to go to, my parent's and my Aunt's. It was like an ordinary routine for me and my siblings - from school, go home (parent's house), have dinner and go home (again!) to my Aunt's house to spend the night there. For almost a decade that was my routine. As I grow older, I became more fascinated and interested into baking. I love to watch my Aunt chopped the bananas into pieces and how she gracefully cut and fold the meringue. Her passion for baking has definitely influenced me. Over the years, she was always there not only for me but for the entire family constantly reminding us to save for the future, to be thankful for everything we have and to be a good person. Through storms we held into each other, guiding us and supporting in every decisions we have. In every stumbles and failures we've encountered, she was there helping us to stand again.
When we found out that she had cancer (after years of keeping it to herself) the family was very devastated. Living and working abroad made it more hard for me. My world just fell apart. Manen was such a positive and strong woman she never acted down. Instead of cheering her up and encouraging her to be more optimistic, it was the other way around. I was happy to do whatever I could, to helped in any ways but no matter how much I helped I felt like it was nothing compared to everything she had done to me, for my daughters and for the family.
Here lies a woman, brave enough to cross the ocean of pain. The woman who dedicated her entire life taking care of her nephews, nieces and grand nieces. A woman who had passion for baking and telenovelas. A woman who loved deeply - even though we didn't always deserve her.
Until her passing last Thursday, I never knew a day without her unconditional love. An Aunt, a Mother (to her nephews and nieces), a Mentor, a Friend, a Blessing to everyone whom she had touched her life with. I am forever grateful and blessed to be her niece and to have walked in her light of love. I know this is just a temporary goodbye and we will see each other again in God's perfect time.
I will miss you everyday of my life Manen. xoxox
