Sadly, I must report that Romelia Monterroso, a big part of our family for over a decade, died last night after years of precarious health. She was surrounded by her large family, including numerous grandchildren.
Originally from the mountains of Guatemala, Romelia never let on her true age so I cannot report it here; in fact, we realized she didn't exactly know when her real birthday was. We guess she was in her late 70s, maybe more? Anyway, there are many stories about this energetic, lively person that we all have to tell; and many in the family have experienced her humor and playfulness. She joined our family by walking in the door and going straight into the kitchen to do dishes--she didn't speak English and so there was no "interview"; she just walked in--and stayed. She imparted her love and care to Claire, Nathalie and Sara for many years, endured the shock and awe of another baby in the household with Robin's birth, and then went through divorce and remarriage with us and several years with Janek, Misia and Stef. Most recently she has been living with her daughter and raising several of her grandchildren as she raised our children.
If you have particular memories of Romelia, it would be lovely if you could post them (or email me and I will post for you.)
Bonnie,
ReplyDeleteI would like to get my Romelia stories right … or maybe it would serve my reputation best to have some of those moments, along with the “baggage” I carried, forgotten. In this time of remembrance, however, perhaps it is good to set the record straight. Can you help with the details of my (our) brief residence in the one-room “house”? I believe it was available because Romelia was visiting family? On a leave of some other sort? Or … did I kick this brave and giving woman out of her bed? - circa 1979-80?????
Another memory, a little older (say 1974-1975), yet more clear, is sitting around your global dinner table. The French and English and Spanish were all uttered together, during the same conversation, mixed up pieces of each in even the same sentence. Little girls so comfortable with words, the dishes clanging, animals of all sorts about … and oh so much laughter. Romelia was right there in the middle of it, not just cleaning up, but doing a lot of the loving, too. I am told of the Moroccan woman who carried me around on her back when I was just a baby. I like hearing about this, and sometimes imagine what it must have been like, re-creating memories from old pictures and such. The truth, though, is that whenever I think of the strong woman who has me strapped to her back while hanging damp laundry on an old rope line, she has somehow acquired the face of Romelia.
I know what Romelia means to you. I’ll be thinking of these things.
Love,
Jimmy
I'm glad I confessed to the troubles with memory in my previous post. If you read carefully, and do a little math, Claire in diapers and her two unborn sisters are tri-lingual. I do remember the dinner table though, even as I placed it in the wrong decade. I would say that the picture on the Original Post was taken very near the actual date.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, it was in the summer of1974 that I first changed a diaper. Her name was Claire,and at that time, my recollection is that she spoke very little Spanish.
I told you I would think about it.
Jimmy
I am saddened to hear about Romelia. She was always so devoted to the 3 girls - and then the additional kids who came along. There are some great pictures of Ike and Lisa's wedding - when we all traipsed East to Maine - with the 3 girls in matching dresses, all made by Romelia. Barbara
ReplyDelete