Juan,

   I am Sonia Ramirez's neice, Diahann M. Arzu.  I did not know your mother, but my mother, Dolores Arzu did and was extremely fond of her.  From what she shared with me, your mother was a beautifully-spirited person and loving to all in more ways than she can express.  She passes along her love and sorrow to you and the family during this time.  My email contact information is dmsociety7@comcast.net.  God Bless.

Dear Mom,
I am writing this final letter to you as we celebrate your life today with family and friends.  First, Esty and I would like to say that we love you and that we appreciate all that you did for us.  Although we are saddened by your departure from this earth, we are happy that you are finally with “Father God” who you loved so much.  No more suffering.  No more pain.  Just happiness as you are now reunited with Moms, Pops, Dad and Telana, as well as other family and friends who went before you.
Mom, as we were searching for pictures for your memorial, I was reminded of how beautiful you were as a young lady.  You always dressed sharp and were known for wearing fashionable boots which in turn resulted in you being affectionately nicknamed, “Bootsy”.  But, you were not only a “good looker”.  You were also very smart and academically oriented.  You worked hard in school and were proud to be accepted to and be a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science.  You had a scholarship to go on to college, but set aside your own personal ambitions to start a new family with Dad.  I really do appreciate your sacrifice to dedicate yourself to the care of Esty, Telana and I.  You took on jobs to help cover expenses; managed the household alone while Dad was deployed to Vietnam, Tripoli and other locations around the world; and still made time to give my brother, sister and I wonderful childhoods.  I was proud to have you hang out with me and my friends because you were so cool.  Often people thought that you were my sister because you kept yourself feeling young, as well as looking young.  We had so much fun playing games indoors and outdoors.  I remember the bowling and volleyball games with my friends.  The memory that keeps coming to mind are the volleyball games…what a competitor!  I also recall your passion for golf and how you shared that passion with Esty.  I’m sure that your golf outings with Esty contributed to him being the great golfer that he is today.  I also remember you and Esty had tons of fun swimming and bowling.  
As a grandmother you were an enthusiastic supporter of Naviere’s bowling and loved to share your passion for reading.  You were always excited to hear about what was going on in the lives of grandchildren, Juan Diego and Christina, and great grandchildren Arden and Asher.  You would make it a point to remember birthdays and send Christmas presents.  You found great enjoyment networking with grandson Nicholas, sister-in-law, Sonia, and other family and friends when it was the time of the year for the McDonald’s monopoly game.  I know that you looked forward to phone calls from family and friends.
Mom, I appreciate your efforts to instill in us self-confidence and the desire for excellence in all that we do.  We all excelled in school and went on to complete college because of your example and your encouragement.  While we were in college, we always knew that we had a life line back to you for support.  I remember calling you from the Academy when I was down or discouraged.  I always left those conversations motivated to take on the next challenge.  Thanks also for your spiritual guidance that served as a pillar of strength for all of us.  You were a strong believer of religious education, Church, and constant bible passages that you would send to me, my siblings, and my children.  In this way, you were strengthening our spiritual foundation for our own good…whether we knew it or not.  I’ve drawn on this spiritual foundation every day of my life.  I have you to thank for that.  Others who have benefited from my approach to life which you nurtured also have you to thank.
As adults, you were still always there for us.  We did not always agree, but that did not deter you from loving each of us with intensity.  To be honest such intense love could be a bit much sometimes, but since I’ve become a parent, I can understand your strong desire to help and to do whatever you can.  
I am proud of your quest for knowledge and persistent pursuit of your degree.  I know that you had to set this goal aside for many years so that you could concentrate on raising me and my siblings.  In addition to this accomplishment, you worked in steadily increasing positions of responsibility as a nurse.  You provided much comfort to veterans at the VA hospital.  But your passion was working with the pre-mature babies.  I remember how excited you were after each shift.  The knowledge that you gained paid off as you helped Ching and Tracey before and after the births of your grandchildren.  As the pictures show, you were loved and admired as a Nurse Supervisor.
Mom, your strong faith helped you weather many traumatic events in your life.  By the grace of God you survived the Oklahoma City tornado of 1999.  One of many miracles was your escape from serious injury despite the total destruction of your home.  You were very proud of your survival and you had every right to be.  Since then, you preached the power of miracles.  Even your e-mail address included the word “miracles”.  I’ve seen miracles in your life and mind over and over again.  I’ve also seen how you’ve inspired others to believe and then they too benefited from the power of faith.
As I made contact with surviving members of the family, it appears that you were preparing us for your departure from this earth.  Your recent phone calls to family members over the past few weeks were very much appreciated by all.
As I think back, I believe that you would want people to remember you as a proud, dedicated and intensely loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend to those blessed to know you.  You would also want to be known as a proud Air Force spouse whose legacy is two sons and three grandchildren who are or were members of the Air Force.  Additionally, you would want to be known as a nursing professional and a survivor who overcame the adversity of the Oklahoma tornado, as well as other tragedies in your life.  Lastly, you would want all to keep foremost in mind a passage from Luke that you just shared with Sonia, “…with God nothing shall be impossible.”  You were an eternal optimist.  We are all grateful for sharing your optimism and passion for the good things in life.
Mom, on behalf of Esty and I, family and friends, please rest in peace in God’s embrace.
I love you.
Juan

Juan and family,

My deepest symapthies on the loss of your mother.  I will pray for her soul and ask God to confort you in your loss.

Kevin O'

Naviere, You are in our thoughts and prayers Helen Smith, Tim Smith, Sarah-Hays Smith, Hal Thomsen, Josh Nelson, Brian Nodes, Eric Ward and Steve Cromer.

Juan, Ching, Naviere, Diego, and Christina, 
  I am so sorry to hear about your mother and grandmother. I know she gave you strength which made you so successful in life. Charley is still missing his father who passed last year. I know she was so very proud of you all and all of your accomplishments. I wish I could be there to give you hugs in person so hug each other for me. 
Nina (and Charley) Barker
Woodbridge, VA

Juan, I'm so sorry to hear of the passing of your Mom.  From my family to yours, we offer sincere condolences to all of you during this difficult time. As a person of faith, please take comfort in knowing this is only a temporary separation from your Mom because one day you will be reunited with her in a better place. Our prayers are with you and yours. God Bless.

I have many good memories of Grandma Ramirez, but my favorite ones are getting monopoly coupons from McDonalds every year around my birthday time. I will always remember how excited I was to get that large envelope each year, and to collect and compare them to the ones I had.

God needed my aunt....she only agreed..so she could have a better view of Johnny, Esteban, Sean, and myself...I remember how you held me when I was not able to sit up myself..I know you where greeted at the gates by many. Brian Ramirez, Brian Ramirez Jr., Kiah Ramirez, Jayden Ramirez, Elihja Sean Ramirez, Jaylea Ramirez, Aniyha Ramirez

OBITUARY

Enes Inez O. Ramirez

September 14, 1938 – January 18, 2011

Memorial Gardens Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery

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