On Monday night, between the hours of 6 and 9, my Tia Maggie passed away. Her breast cancer had metastasized to her lungs, and there was nothing they could do to stop it. She was only 38 years old. Her children, my cousins Anthony(19) and Marisa(13), and her husband Angel, are devastated, along with the rest of us: my uncle, her stepdaughter Christina and her two children, Maggie's mother, my mother, and myself.

This woman was the epitome of the idea of a strong, Amazon woman. She was big, dark, and beautiful, everybody thought she would make it out alive. She was an amazing mother, bringing Marisa up to be a beautiful lady, and Anthony up to be one hell of a good man. Today is her memorial service, and the first time I get to see my cousins for a long time. What an occasion.

I write this today in her honor, in memory of a woman who captivated everyone who saw her, made everyone laugh, and cared for her family like no other. When I was small, before I knew anything about taming my unruly mess of an afro, she would sit me and Marisa down, and take the whole day just playing with our hair and letting us dress in her clothes. It was only around her in my youth that I ever truly felt pretty. I looked up to her, the tall, smiling, dark haired woman was exactly who I wanted to be, and still do. She had laughter in her eyes at all times, and she never took shit from anyone.


Titi Maggie was a real woman. The kind of woman one rarely gets to meet in their lifetime. We loved and still love her dearly. Today, my family remembers her as she was. A good woman who loved her life and loved her family. May she rest knowing her loved ones celebrate her life. Dios bendiga mi Titi Maggie. Amen.



Forgive me, I had to let it out somehow, I haven't talked to anyone outside my home for a week. I just hope this did her justice.

These are some photos of her with my cousins:
Marisa and Maggie - [link]
Anthony and Maggie - [link]
Anthony, Marisa, Maggie, and Angel - [link]
(last one was take after she started chemo therapy)

If you made it this far, thank you. I appreciate it.

love you all,
Aya