All Is Well, That Ends Well…

Yesterday my Mother’s body was laid to rest next to my Dad’s body in Mexico. It was quite the adventure and discussion to get her there! It all started here on Earth, the year 1962. My dad decided to go to Mexico, learn Spanish and seek to share some of his math and science talents with a mission organized by his church. He didn’t make it too far past his beautiful Mexican teacher. With her vibrant temperament and Latin dance moves, she swooped him off his feet. They were married in Mexico and she was whisked off to Midland Texas 6 months later, soon to be pregnant with the first of 10 children! (Ironically today is their first son’s birthday, being celebrated in Mexico, surrounded by family that made it to her burial. Happy Birthday Paul!).

My dad always said God had a better plan for him and I couldn’t agree more! As I contemplate my parent’s life and the challenges they went through I can’t help but feel gratitude and wonder.

My dad moved my Mom back to Mexico 25 years ago. She truly loved her country and wanted to die there. Well instead my dad died there in 2021. Last year some of my siblings thought it would be best to bring Mom to the USA. She was put in a nursing home in Northern Idaho where she was visited by many of her children and grandchildren. She died almost a year later. We had the complex situation of my American Dad buried in Mexico and my Mexican mom here on US soil. Some thought that it really didn’t matter anymore, since their souls were together. My Aunt reading my dad’s will and being the executor put the hammer down and things got done! My dad wanted to live one minute past my mom. Again, God had a different plan.

My dad pre planned the whole burial. The Church, the burial ground next to him. A special choir, Jalisco Municipal Sacred Choir, came sang at her Mass. He also made sure there was a bus rented to take all of us around. A beautiful bouquet of flowers placed on her casket, he wrote, “with eternal love from your beloved husband”. Okay he made us all smile and touched all our hearts!

My parents lives were not boring. My mom’s spicey temperament and my dad’s methodical intelligence would enjoy a good combat from time to time. I guess you could say they fought the good fight.

Thanks to modern technology, those of us who could not make it, watched live as she had her third requiem Mass and was tenderly laid next to my dad. I think my son said it best, “Papa Frank’s eternal peace may be ending but their reunion is pure love!” I can hear my dad’s mom, Grandma Angel’s exclaiming from some distant heavenly loft; “all’s well that ends well!” Amen.