She was our dear Mother, but to everyone who ever met her, she was always "Ma" - because she was the homemaker par excellence. There was no other way anyone could address her - it was her perfect title.
She and her One and Only Love, Joe, came to this Great Country in 1950 to build a new life for themselves and their family. It took her almost five years before she could answer a phone call. She knew how to "Hello" and "Goodbye" - in between those words, it would take her some time before she mastered enough English to complete a conversation with someone outside of her family. Of course, she was blessed to live in a neighborhood of other young families who settled in Michigan from The Old Country. In that case, the phone became the best way of communication between her and the other women who became her best friends for many years. It was always interesting to listen to her speak with her friends; over the years, the talks were always sprinkled between English and their native language.
This is being written during the Christmas season and it is with proud hearts that she is remembered for her remarkable baking and cooking skills and her fondness to create homemade Christmas tree ornaments. Some of them span several decades, and they look as if they had been created just the day before.
Newspaper Article Published in Honor of
Joseph Gomez Blanco and Geraldine Gomez Blanco
One of my fond memories was in 1950. I was 5 years old. We had left our war-ravaged country for a new life in America. Our ship was heading into New York Harbor. My father woke us very early that morning. I remember he was so excited. He wanted to show us the "nice lady" who stood there to welcome our arrival.
I can still recall thinking that Americans must be such nice people. There, in all its magnificence, was the Statue of Liberty, and I thought they had placed her there just for our family to see.
Readers Remember. (1999). Los Angeles Times. 15 December, pB4.
For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.
Psalm 91:11
She was our dear Mother, but to everyone who ever met her, she was always "Ma" - because she was the homemaker par excellence. There was no other way anyone could address her - it was her perfect title.
She and her One and Only Love, Joe, came to this Great Country in 1950 to build a new life for themselves and their family. It took her almost five years before she could answer a phone call. She knew how to "Hello" and "Goodbye" - in between those words, it would take her some time before she mastered enough English to complete a conversation with someone outside of her family. Of course, she was blessed to live in a neighborhood of other young families who settled in Michigan from The Old Country. In that case, the phone became the best way of communication between her and the other women who became her best friends for many years. It was always interesting to listen to her speak with her friends; over the years, the talks were always sprinkled between English and their native language.
This is being written during the Christmas season and it is with proud hearts that she is remembered for her remarkable baking and cooking skills and her fondness to create homemade Christmas tree ornaments. Some of them span several decades, and they look as if they had been created just the day before.
Newspaper Article Published in Honor of
Joseph Gomez Blanco and Geraldine Gomez Blanco
One of my fond memories was in 1950. I was 5 years old. We had left our war-ravaged country for a new life in America. Our ship was heading into New York Harbor. My father woke us very early that morning. I remember he was so excited. He wanted to show us the "nice lady" who stood there to welcome our arrival.
I can still recall thinking that Americans must be such nice people. There, in all its magnificence, was the Statue of Liberty, and I thought they had placed her there just for our family to see.
Readers Remember. (1999). Los Angeles Times. 15 December, pB4.
For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.
Psalm 91:11