Unpublished Obituaries
Written by E.G. Martinez
By E.G. Martinez
She never knew her grandparents and barely knew her father as she was eight years old when her father died. Finally making contact with her father’s sister Anita Garcia Lay in the 1970s, she found some sense of satisfaction in knowing about her ancestry.
Living in the Tiny House, she lived in close proximity to her mother, brother and two sisters. Her eldest sister Loreto lived in the same town but they could only visit on weekends or holidays. The Tiny House did not have a telephone for a long time until a phone line was attached to the big house in what was then called a party-line, it was a second phone on the same telephone line. It was then that mom was able to call Loreto as often as she wanted. Her call however could be interrupted by someone in the big house who also wanted to make a call.
My mother didn’t have interest in making friendships but loved to be around family and looked forward to family gatherings and didn’t mind being the center of attention. She lacked the talent to play a musical instrument, sing a song or tell a good story but she could recite a story with a punchline (tell a joke). To family members that is how she is remembered.
Her upbringing taught her to be a minimalist and in her early married years there was no room for collections created by hobbies. This trend continued throughout her life. Even unused kids’ toys would be considered disposable. Her one interest was in nurturing house plants, specifically the African Violet, she would be delighted to see one or more flourish under her care. Although, the Gardenia was her favorite flower.
At home we spoke Spanish, when I first went to school, I didn’t understand English very well. Mrs. Stevenson asked her students to bring a paper sack to school, all I understood was to bring something to class but didn’t know what to bring. My mother helped me create a project using iron-on stencils and water colors. She sent me off to school with the project we created and also with wilted lettuce and other vegetables for our classroom mascot, a rabbit named Portola. I turned in my project that I thought my teacher wanted as well as a paper sack with vegetables. The paper sacks were used to make Halloween masks.
I remember that she took me to several appointments with an allergy doctor in San Jose about 13 miles away. We would walk quite a distance: down Gabriel Ave. to Ortega, Ortega to the railroad tracks, then take a “locals” shortcut through open fields to Castro City Market, cross the railroad tracks to Evelyn Rd. and to the Greyhound bus stop. We would then travel about an hour on the bus then change to a city bus to get to our destination. She would always pack a lunch that I would eat on the bus, a deviled egg sandwich.
My brothers and sisters brought her joy as family was very important to her. I remember on two occasions when I was sure that I brought her true joy, when I returned from Vietnam and when I announced my engagement to Janet. All of her mothering must have finally felt worth while.
She never knew her grandparents and barely knew her father as she was eight years old when her father died. Finally making contact with her father’s sister Anita Garcia Lay in the 1970s, she found some sense of satisfaction in knowing about her ancestry.
Living in the Tiny House, she lived in close proximity to her mother, brother and two sisters. Her eldest sister Loreto lived in the same town but they could only visit on weekends or holidays. The Tiny House did not have a telephone for a long time until a phone line was attached to the big house in what was then called a party-line, it was a second phone on the same telephone line. It was then that mom was able to call Loreto as often as she wanted. Her call however could be interrupted by someone in the big house who also wanted to make a call.
My mother didn’t have interest in making friendships but loved to be around family and looked forward to family gatherings and didn’t mind being the center of attention. She lacked the talent to play a musical instrument, sing a song or tell a good story but she could recite a story with a punchline (tell a joke). To family members that is how she is remembered.
Her upbringing taught her to be a minimalist and in her early married years there was no room for collections created by hobbies. This trend continued throughout her life. Even unused kids’ toys would be considered disposable. Her one interest was in nurturing house plants, specifically the African Violet, she would be delighted to see one or more flourish under her care. Although, the Gardenia was her favorite flower.
At home we spoke Spanish, when I first went to school, I didn’t understand English very well. Mrs. Stevenson asked her students to bring a paper sack to school, all I understood was to bring something to class but didn’t know what to bring. My mother helped me create a project using iron-on stencils and water colors. She sent me off to school with the project we created and also with wilted lettuce and other vegetables for our classroom mascot, a rabbit named Portola. I turned in my project that I thought my teacher wanted as well as a paper sack with vegetables. The paper sacks were used to make Halloween masks.
I remember that she took me to several appointments with an allergy doctor in San Jose about 13 miles away. We would walk quite a distance: down Gabriel Ave. to Ortega, Ortega to the railroad tracks, then take a “locals” shortcut through open fields to Castro City Market, cross the railroad tracks to Evelyn Rd. and to the Greyhound bus stop. We would then travel about an hour on the bus then change to a city bus to get to our destination. She would always pack a lunch that I would eat on the bus, a deviled egg sandwich.
My brothers and sisters brought her joy as family was very important to her. I remember on two occasions when I was sure that I brought her true joy, when I returned from Vietnam and when I announced my engagement to Janet. All of her mothering must have finally felt worth while.
Partial Eulogy, the complete version is found in the Book "In Search of a Better Life" page 64.
Francisco learned to play the guitar, in his youth, from a Spanish guitarist in Del Rio, Texas. He often played a “balsecito” (waltz) composed by his teacher.
To his immediate family, he was better known as Pancho.
[Picture of Francisco with guitar]
In the early 1950s, Francisco and friend Alberto decided to enter the entertainment field and were billed as “Alberto y Pancho.” They played venues from San Jose to San Francisco. They became well known and were asked to join a group of performers on tour in California. The promoter of the group was Guillermo Arcos and the act was named “UNA NOCHE de FIESTA EN JALISCO.” The headliner was the very talented singer Carmen (Carmencita) Lardizabal. Accompanied by “Alberto y Pancho” and baritone Tomas Cornejo. Rounding out the group were backup singers and internationally recognized dancers Hermanas Alvarez. In 2024, Francisco’s daughter Irene, recognized the name Carmen Lardizabel, she said that Carmen was related to her ex-husband.
Francisco learned to play the guitar, in his youth, from a Spanish guitarist in Del Rio, Texas. He often played a “balsecito” (waltz) composed by his teacher.
To his immediate family, he was better known as Pancho.
[Picture of Francisco with guitar]
In the early 1950s, Francisco and friend Alberto decided to enter the entertainment field and were billed as “Alberto y Pancho.” They played venues from San Jose to San Francisco. They became well known and were asked to join a group of performers on tour in California. The promoter of the group was Guillermo Arcos and the act was named “UNA NOCHE de FIESTA EN JALISCO.” The headliner was the very talented singer Carmen (Carmencita) Lardizabal. Accompanied by “Alberto y Pancho” and baritone Tomas Cornejo. Rounding out the group were backup singers and internationally recognized dancers Hermanas Alvarez. In 2024, Francisco’s daughter Irene, recognized the name Carmen Lardizabel, she said that Carmen was related to her ex-husband.
Chapter 1
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Teresa Garcia at 2 or 3 years old
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Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6