I lost my Aunt Eva last week. As a kid I remember spending summers in Pomona with her, Uncle Ted, Joe, Jeff, and Julie. I remember my aunt spoiling me because she didn’t have grandkids yet, so I was the one she referred to as “the baby.” Everytime I’d go somewhere with my cousins I remember Aunt Eva telling them “be careful with the baby,” "watch the baby,” I loved it because I was the baby and they’d be in big trouble if anything happened to me lol.
I remember my aunt as a strong woman of god who genuinely cared for the people. I remember a summer when she came home from the grocery store with a bunch of hotdogs and went straight to the kitchen and cooked them. She then took them out to the park across the street and fed the prostitute’s kids in the park (she probably fed everyone that asked for a hotdog, but my memory says it was just the kids lol). What stands out to me now as an adult and I think back on this memory is that she just fed them. She wasn’t out there pushing them to come to Jesus, instead she was showing them Jesus in her kindness by simply feeding them.
Fast forward to early 2000’s adult me after recently having come out as gay. My family naturally all had different reactions to the news. I was told by a family member that my Aunt Eva had said I was no longer welcome at the house. I told my cousin Julie (her daughter) who told me that wasn’t true, but I still took it to heart. A few years later at my grandma’s funeral I found out that was in fact not true. While in the kitchen doing my best to avoid my aunt who was sitting at the kitchen table I heard her voice call my name and say “I love you mija.” I walked over and gave her a hug and she reassured me that she loved me no matter what. There was no lecture, no speeches, just love and acceptance.
There are of course many many more wonderful memories I can share about my beautiful aunt. But it's these two that stand out to me the most as I think back and remember her. In both these circumstances my aunt showed the true definition of christian. She simply acted in love. There was no lecturing anyone on lifestyles, just acts of love.
The service for Aunt Eva is September 19th in the United states. I want to go. Normally I’d say they are already gone. It won't make a difference whether I go or not. And while that does still apply in this case I can’t help but feel like I need to go. I feel the need to show up and pay tribute to this legendary woman. I’m still currently fighting to get my mexican passport. I fired my immigration lawyer who didn’t want to continue to help me since it was going to be more work than he originally thought it would be. I’ve hired another immigration lawyer to help me out. He confirmed that my application was denied and will continue to be denied based on discrimination. He has made me an appointment on September 14th at a different passport office and we are hopeful. - Nolan
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