After my mom (Elsa Ramirez Elizondo) passed away on 1/29/11, I started "visiting" her frequently, as well as the cemeteries where many of our other relatives were/are...I have found this to be very relaxing and a way to stay in "touch" with our loved ones, many of which I had never or rarely ever visited before (weird only because I couldn't force myself to go to funerals until I was very much an adult with a family of my own!).I have relatives in several of the cemeteries in the San Isidro area (i.e., Santa Elena, San Isidro, Santa Cruz, La Soledad, Delmita, etc.)...these are but a few. Other photo volunteers have pretty much covered many of those laid to rest there, but I will gladly provide any other pics/information that someone might want...I still have many other cemeteries to get to...Agua Nueva, San Diego, Benavides, Rio Grande City, etc. all of which I hope to get to soon....Being that this is a rural area and many of the cemeteries are "way in" from the highway, my mom had requested to be buried close to the highway. She is buried at the Hilario Alvarado Cemetery, in her jeans and tennis shoes, as she so requested, so that she could "visit" with the others there as well as passers-by...I guess that's where I came about being "moved" to visit others as well...almost like a calling. I still have relatives at the "ranch" (San Isidro area) that take care of our loved ones regularly, including H. Alvarado's son (Frank) who is married to my mom's sister (Elda), my aunt Evie and Tia Maria.These visits, in turn, have led to a fascination with our family history...family tree/ties, etc. We are here but for a short time, and then we are laid to rest...and that place, hopefully, will be one where others will come by. My Dad's dad (Victor, Sr.) is buried at Hillcrest Memorial here in Edinburg. When I asked my dad why my grandpa was basically the only one of his family buried in town, he said: "segun para visitarlo mas seguido" which means....so that we could visit him more frequently (since we lived in town). Sadly, it doesn't matter where anyone is buried...if we want to visit we will make the time...no matter where...I don't find visiting cemeteries to be morbid, as some people think...rather, I feel that there is a connection with those there/our loved ones...and it is a way to continue to love and respect them, even though that would not normally be the way that we would choose to see them.I have found this site to be so helpful in finding so many in my HUGE family, so I would like to repay the debt. Please let me know if I can be of any help to anyone needing pictures or information from any of the cemeteries in these areas...either via this site or my email: [email protected]

Blessings....Leticia (Letty)

P.S. As we wrestle with the idea of "where" we want to be laid to rest (those of us that CAN talk about it...my "stuff" is already paid for), we should choose where we would feel best to "stay"....I think to myself..."hhmmm...let me be buried in town so it will be easier for my kids to see me"....but then I revert to the thought that I need to go where I want to be....better to be lonely where we choose than to be lonely where we may not be visited (like my grandpa in town). It is never anyone's intent to ignore those that have gone before us...it's just that everyone's life is SO busy that time might have to go to other, more pressing and current family business than to those already ahead of us......that is reality...life/living is the priority....

After my mom (Elsa Ramirez Elizondo) passed away on 1/29/11, I started "visiting" her frequently, as well as the cemeteries where many of our other relatives were/are...I have found this to be very relaxing and a way to stay in "touch" with our loved ones, many of which I had never or rarely ever visited before (weird only because I couldn't force myself to go to funerals until I was very much an adult with a family of my own!).I have relatives in several of the cemeteries in the San Isidro area (i.e., Santa Elena, San Isidro, Santa Cruz, La Soledad, Delmita, etc.)...these are but a few. Other photo volunteers have pretty much covered many of those laid to rest there, but I will gladly provide any other pics/information that someone might want...I still have many other cemeteries to get to...Agua Nueva, San Diego, Benavides, Rio Grande City, etc. all of which I hope to get to soon....Being that this is a rural area and many of the cemeteries are "way in" from the highway, my mom had requested to be buried close to the highway. She is buried at the Hilario Alvarado Cemetery, in her jeans and tennis shoes, as she so requested, so that she could "visit" with the others there as well as passers-by...I guess that's where I came about being "moved" to visit others as well...almost like a calling. I still have relatives at the "ranch" (San Isidro area) that take care of our loved ones regularly, including H. Alvarado's son (Frank) who is married to my mom's sister (Elda), my aunt Evie and Tia Maria.These visits, in turn, have led to a fascination with our family history...family tree/ties, etc. We are here but for a short time, and then we are laid to rest...and that place, hopefully, will be one where others will come by. My Dad's dad (Victor, Sr.) is buried at Hillcrest Memorial here in Edinburg. When I asked my dad why my grandpa was basically the only one of his family buried in town, he said: "segun para visitarlo mas seguido" which means....so that we could visit him more frequently (since we lived in town). Sadly, it doesn't matter where anyone is buried...if we want to visit we will make the time...no matter where...I don't find visiting cemeteries to be morbid, as some people think...rather, I feel that there is a connection with those there/our loved ones...and it is a way to continue to love and respect them, even though that would not normally be the way that we would choose to see them.I have found this site to be so helpful in finding so many in my HUGE family, so I would like to repay the debt. Please let me know if I can be of any help to anyone needing pictures or information from any of the cemeteries in these areas...either via this site or my email: [email protected]

Blessings....Leticia (Letty)

P.S. As we wrestle with the idea of "where" we want to be laid to rest (those of us that CAN talk about it...my "stuff" is already paid for), we should choose where we would feel best to "stay"....I think to myself..."hhmmm...let me be buried in town so it will be easier for my kids to see me"....but then I revert to the thought that I need to go where I want to be....better to be lonely where we choose than to be lonely where we may not be visited (like my grandpa in town). It is never anyone's intent to ignore those that have gone before us...it's just that everyone's life is SO busy that time might have to go to other, more pressing and current family business than to those already ahead of us......that is reality...life/living is the priority....