After Vanessa woke to start her day, the sun would try and keep up! By the time twilight glowed in the horizon she would have made a call, or received a call. “good morning Sissy, rise and shine!”. She would pester her mom awake, pulling her leg, pulling her blankets, she would check in on GiGi, an ear to her bedroom door, a quick peak after so cautiously opening the door. Downstairs, “shhhhhhh,” boy did she pampered her little big brother Nick. By the time she had her coffee with mom and Gigi and before she walked out that door, her priorities had already a bright start. Vanessa is “FAMILY”.
Time to head to work! Alone within the confines of “her ranfla,” her sanctuary, she would now direct her attention to the love of her life. “Morning Monkey!”. Vanessa and Jorge where black and white in every sense of the word. Together however they glowed. Beauty and the Beast, a greasy wrench monkey, and a seemingly delicate beautiful white flower. “February 17 2007 it was like 1030 bro” and he rants along “When I was in WLC (warrior leadership course), she wrote me a letter every day and put it in a folder for me, along with the letters I wrote her.” “Five hundred and one miles exactly bro I checked it, from Arizona too Riverside to come see her,”he laughs, “dude she wanted me to stay on the phone the whole time with her as I was driving”. “This one time for Christmas I got a really big box, I wrapped it and everything, and I had her so excited about it” he pauses only to snicker some more. I got her a broom, an apron cleaning gloves” the list continued… if your jaw just dropped or your tears are now coupled with a laughter you know Vanessa. That was the dynamic of Jorge and Vanessa. “We had a plan” … “get married and have kids” and he goes on, and on, and on. Vanessa’s ring size is 5, I know this, because Jorge knows this. For over a third of her short life Vanessa experienced true love, and for that Jorge I thank you.
I say short life, but it was by no means uneventful. Time has not lapsed the memory of her many accomplishments. She was a coroner tech, at Riverside’s Sheriff coroner, her first day on the job “ I got to hold a human heart, for a muscle its really quite squishy” she was so excited. By the 4th day she was sewing up bodies. The same person who could not be in the same room with a mouse. And then you heard how she talked about those who have passed. Which for the same reason I will not detail, but I’ll say this that she treated the deceased as she treated the living, with the outmost respect and compassion for those they left behind. She loved the job she entered, but she missed the job she left behind when she promoted. She worked as an administrator, evidence and firearms. But what she was so excited about was the power of the sirens “did you know when you throw on the switch everybody moves, like they just move”. The people she worked with, she loved them down the cute little puppies she contemplated dognapping “because they are just so cute.” Keep in mind some of these “puppies” are attack dogs. There was that one CPT that gave her the hibi jibis, but I quote, “its ok,”. If you asked about her day…you heard adventures, I distinctly recall the time she had to help someone search and find their way, and that’s all I’m allowed to say. She mastered the arts of forensic Psychology, many nights along that road where long nights, some nights teamed with tears but she never faltered. She leaves behind a masterpiece, a thesis which still could not capture in its entirety the capabilities of her intellect. Along the way she picked up a double bachelor in ethnic studies and criminal justice. what she was most proud of however where the friends she made at Cal state Fullerton. Whilst doing all this she was a mobile paramedical examiner, which was her next step after being an administrator at Mission career college, where she helped many Veterans get accredited for careers in the civilian sector, and many students find career paths to better their futures. And I guess that was only logical after being an AVID tutor at her graduating high school, Arlington, where she was also an ROTC cadet where she excelled with her leadership skills. All along the road of her life she faced adversity, obstacles, and even oppositions, but she never lost faith, heart, or momentum and she literally plowed through “cant’s, don’ts, and wont’s”.
But it was not all work and no play, the things she did she enjoyed, she enjoyed them with the wisdom of recognizing hard work and struggle, effort and determination. She enjoyed helping people. She passionately enjoyed helping people. And she was a fan of celebrating accomplishments, goals met, steps taken changes for the better. Now with the same empathy she would accompany in your pain when your nana passed away, when you lost your friend, that loved one who mattered so much to you. The same way she would turn you to faith “Its ok to cry, I understand it hurts, but God is calling for them, and when he reaches out to take them, you need to be strong, because I guarantee that everyone in that home is feeling the same exact way, but in the end we can’t do a single thing about it, because it’s God’s work, so just be strong it will eventually be alright.” With that same empathy she would share your joy in your accomplishment never crediting herself for pulling you through it, for shoving you in the right direction, for opening every door your struggle your adversity or your opposition tried to shut along the way. Scared to try that, lets go, you need to do this, lets go, who said no?, let’s go, oh you need this and that but there is only one of you, ok, you do that, I’ll do this, but let’s go. Ok Vanny I’m at point place, I know, I called the front desk they said you’re their now give them this that and the other… its in the envelope in your back pocket, cmon lets go. But after it got done the weeding went fine, your paper turned out great, you passed your exam, the situation has been handled.
Party! Divanessa came out, a Fashionista, primero muerta que sencilla, one who would accent every garment with its complementing accessories, your in the dark you need a light can’t see anything quick gift vanessa a purse I swear I’ve seen her glow. That sheek belt, the perfect diadem. Oh! that necklace. But whenever if at all possible No glasses, not over those eyes. Even if you’re the type who would not smile for the pain it causes you right there by where your cheeks lift when you do it, yeah her smile was that contagious. Her aura was uplifting never a dull moment in her presence, you add a little grape juice and it’s a good time all around. We are gathered here today to celebrate the completion of the tasks assigned to our angel here on earth and consequentially her departure. And truth be told she is likely up there pulling some strings so we could join her someday. All of her accomplishments here on earth fall second to Vanessa as she looks down from the heavens and sees “THIS”, crazy was to think that I could summarize the life of Vanessa, Ludacris that I thought I had to. turn left, turn right, tell A story share a memory recall an adventure and join me in celebrating the life of Vanessa.
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