Josefina Hernandez Rios

3/21/21 - 7/15/2011

Josefina Hernandez Rios, Wife of Pablo Hernandez for sixty eight years, Mother (of Misael, Lydia, Zaidy, and Eliazer (Eli aka Al), Grandmother, and Great grandmother, Homemaker, Cook, Baker, Seamstress, Best Friend of Leonor Hernandez Roman for sixty nine years, and part time Shaman, and Matriarch of the Rios Clan, a woman of devout faith, passed away in her sleep Friday, afternoon.

She practiced what she preached and preached what she practiced. Thank you for leaving us your sense of humor and rendering your heart to your soulmate Pablo.  We rejoice and celebrate the life you lead and the example you set for us.  Your family and your extended family of friends will miss your recipes and your remedies.

Thank you for not giving up hope when Misael was killed.  Thank you for wanting another son and bringing me into the light of the world.  You taught me love and respect of all women and to treat them as I treat my own sisters.  You taught me to appreciate women not as objects but as equals.  You taught me to honor and be honorable.  You taught me the value of perseverance and the meaning of personal sacrifice.  You taught me to love people and to reach out to others.  You gave me the gift of story telling and you taught me how to cry at even my own stories.  You blessed me when I would ask for your blessing.  You accepted me as I was but made me feel brilliant and wealthy when I was neither.

You comforted me even as I comforted you throughout your life.  You never gave up during adversity and you assumed the head of the household more than once during Dad's sickness.   You were the first feminist I knew.

Forgive me for not being strong enough at the end, instead I focused on making things comfortable for you, Dad, and the rest of the family.  Mom, on Friday, your coffin will be surrounded by flowers.  I will make sure of it.  You will be surrounded by those you loved and those that loved you.  You will be laid to rest where you will always face the promise of the morning sun.

If there is a time for tears, Mom, this it.  I tried to hold them back.    I think if we gathered all the tears that will be shed, we could use them to season years of fantastic soups.  There's no sense in wasting good heart felt tears.

It's not good-bye. It's adios and until we meet again. "You were so right "como la madre solamente hay una." "Una mariposita, desde el cielo bajo, con sus alas abierta, y en el pico una flor..."

3/21/21 - 7/15/2011