Josefina Rodriguez

“Ella fue en la vida una mujer, hermana, y madre bien valiosa. Para que ellos que estan oyendo o para que ellos que esten entendiendo sepan el valorar, el amor de una madre dedicada ha sus hijos como lo fué ella. Que Dios la bendiga. Que Dios haga resplandecer su rostro sobre ella y la tenga en su gloria. Amen” - Tio Juan Rodriguez

Josefina Rodriguez, born May 12th, 1942, in a small barrio called Polvorin in Cayey, Puerto Rico. Her parents were Pilar Rodriguez and Ana Rosa Vasquez, who together had Victor, Josefina, and Juan. Their mother died when mom was only two years old, as she cared for others during the pandemic of that time. So, Grandpa Pilar’s mother, Eustaquia helped raised them. This little lady adored the children, and the children cherished her, calling her Mamita. They lived in a small wood house and were very poor. Having so little Josefina learned what was truly of value in life, caring for others (following her mother’s example). And so, when she was young Josefina wanted to become a nurse. This was in character with the caring and compassionate person she already was and would continue to be the rest of her life. Unfortunately, because Mamita was already quite elderly mom was needed at home and so was taken out of school to help in the house and the raising of her brothers. In 1959 mom went to live in Brooklyn, New York. There she raised her children Jose, Ricardo, Carmen, Ana, Radames, and Benjamin. Josefina never had material things of value, nor did she value material things. What she had were her children and this she valued more than anything else in life. Life would prove to be very difficult for her, but she never forsook her children. She would go on to sacrifice her own dreams and hopes and would empty herself for the sake of her children. No greater mother could anyone hope to have had. She poured her love into her children and her love never ended. Her cup overflowed to her children, and never emptied, and we are blessed by it still. We are here to honor this beautiful soul that was imparted to us for a time. The first blessing we had in this world, our mother. God has taken His daughter into His grace. We who remain will mourn the loss and must live our lives in a manner worthy of her nobility and sacrifice. "El Dolor es el precio que pagamos por el amor, y lo vale un millón de veces". Que Dios te sujete en sus manos, con carino, querida mama. Hasta que nos vemos cara a cara, bendicion madre.

From the time a caterpillar comes into this world, it is making its way to the day of its transition. With each passing day it gets closer to the day it will become what it was created to be. And when the new creation is made manifest, do we mourn the empty shell? Or do we remain in reverence and awe, celebrating the majesty of the new creation? Our mother has transitioned, and one day the magnificence of that new creation will be made evident to us. Until that day, live your lives worthy of the many sacrifices made on our behalf, and be at peace.

Desde el momento en que una oruga llega a este mundo, se abre camino hasta el día de su transición. Con cada día que pasa, se acerca el día en que se convertirá en lo que fue creado para ser. Y cuando la nueva creación se manifiesta, ¿lamentamos la cáscara vacía? ¿O permanecemos en reverencia y asombro, celebrando la majestad de la nueva creación? Nuestra madre ha hecho la transición y un día se nos hará evidente la magnificencia de esa nueva creación. Hasta ese día, vivan sus vidas dignas de los muchos sacrificios hechos por nosotros y estén en paz.

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