Lydia Lyds Rius Mendoza

Eulogy for Mama

Today, we are gathered here to celebrate my mother’s life, how she was able to bring us all together in this one room. We all have been touched by her one way or the other. She had played all different roles for all of us either as wife, mother, and friend, each role as vital as the next. As many of you know, my mother had a good heart with only kind words to say about people. She was instrumental in connecting all of us together. We had always known her as a woman of strong faith, a believer of God which she had passed on to us her daughters. This same faith was the one she was holding on even up to her last breath. Her greatest joy was in teaching us, her children, to trust and to love Jesus as our Savior.

She was a good mother, the one that loved her family and provided an atmosphere where each member can find acceptance, security and understanding. She was always there for us when we needed a listening ear, a comforting word, a warm hug, or a loving touch on a fevered brow. She was every bit of a mother in the truest sense of the word. These are the same reasons why it was so hard for us to let go and to surrender to her lingering illness.

I remember it was Christmas Eve when she was first admitted to the hospital due to weakness of her lower extremities. We felt so helpless because I was in the Philippines away on vacation while my sister Maricar was at work in Central Valley in Northern California. The doctors were not able to get any findings despite series of diagnostic exams. She was discharged day after Christmas but the symptoms still persisted. Between then and June, we noticed the sudden deterioration of her health. My sister and I would take turns in coming here every weekend and every time we could always request some time off in addition to the weekend. My mom got weaker and weaker as weeks passed. When she felt that her days were numbered, she started saying her wishes and one of which was to take care of our father and our eldest sister who is still in the Philippines. Also, she stated that we continue to show love and support for each other. She never ceased to always express her love for us and same thing with us. There was never a day passed without letting her know how much we care and love her even up to her last day here on earth. Worship songs were continuously being played in her room and rosaries were being said on a daily basis and we could tell that she was also praying with us as she was mumbling with her eyes closed. We were all in denial in the beginning but that denial turned into acceptance as we could not bear the sight of her suffering. When her doctors talked to us about hospice, it was never easy for us to make that decision. We had a chance to meet the hospice liaison and discussed options they may have for families like us. Our ultimate goals at that time were to ease her pain and give her comfort. It was morning of June 2 when she passed away and we were there inside her room when she left us. She passed away peacefully in her sleep. It was the saddest day of our lives but knowing that she no longer is in pain and knowing that she is now in the comfort of God’s care, it somehow relieved our pain and sadness. We were also relieved knowing that she had accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

We do know that memories can be blessings – full of comfort, assurance and joy. Old age can be happy and satisfying if we have stored up memories of purity, faith, fellowship and love. The kind of mother that we had deserves to be honored and with that recognition, we are showing it with respect, thoughtfulness and loving deeds. We are grateful for giving us this opportunity to share this moment with all of you. Our loss is heaven’s gain for she is now an angel watching over us as what she had promised when she was still living. We miss and love you so much, Mama.