We are gathered here today in the memory of my mother, so that together we may acknowledge and share both our joy in the gift that her life was to us, and the pain that her passing brings. In sharing the joy and the pain together today, may we lessen the pain and remember more clearly the joy. My mother is such an extraordinary figure in my life. She taught me the importance of family, faith, hard work, kindness, tolerance, generosity, forgiveness and love. My mother taught me that greatness is not this wonderful, esoteric, illusive, God-like feature that only the special among us will ever taste. She showed me that it’s something that truly exists in all of us — She was a strong woman. The strongest I will ever know… She never gave up. 
She always kept her promises and fulfilled them to the best of her abilities. When she got sick, it was only her body that gave up, not her fighting spirit. After unsuccessfully putting pen to paper several times, I realized that there really are no words to describe the closeness I had with my mother. There are only feelings, indescribable feelings. Feelings that i’m sure you all felt with your own mother, because she was there to praise me when I did well, and the first to lift me back up when I fell. She taught me My guts. My confidence. My bravery and my strength. She taught me My sensitivity, my compassion, my loyalty and even my laughter. I see now that looking back at the past shows the small connections that lead to the grandest moments. You have to trust that somehow everything will make sense in the future, because everything is jumbled up now. God is a loving father trying to show the way. H
e wants what’s best for us, but for now, you just have to trust and believe in his heavenly plan. God needed her for a greater purpose, He needed an angel that had all the qualities that define a true hero. I don’t blame him, for she is my hero and yours as well.. And I know that once she completes her mission with god, she will not only be in our hearts, but at rest in paradise. I feel as though she never truly left us. She is there guiding my hand. She is there beside me, and she is there showing me the right path; as in life she taught me the values and lessons that she has learned from her parents, and has passed them to me, so that I may pass them dow
n to the next generations. I miss her each and every passing day. You have done a great Significance in this world… Mom I promise you I will continue my life, accomplish many things, become successful.. Because I know that your warmth is with me, your smile is by me, your laughter is replaying over on my mind, your soft hands are always with mine, your strength is with me, and most of all, your unconditional love is going to be there in the good, the bad, the happy, and the sad.. I can’t wait to see you again Mami… but first I am needed here to comp
lete my mission that God has given me, and I know he will reward me with you. Gracias por todo que has hecho para mi
y nuestra familia. I love you Mami. Your son, Rene Maldonado.
