Today I attended the wake of my beloved cousin whom we so endeared and called Ate (meaning big sister in tagalog, pronounced, At-(e)) Pixie. She was the eldest of us and always the elder cousin, made sure us youger ones were taken cared of and fed and safe. She died suddenly this past Sunday at 50 years old and the news took us all by suprise, she was and is loved by so many. 300+ people attended the wake at the Chapel of the Chimes funeral home in Hayward and so unfortunate in events such as these, mini reunions of years gone resurface and conversations start where they left off. Life just past us by. As much as today was a difficult event to attend, it was like a homecoming of sorts, to see my dear cousins, Maryann, Vic, Eileen, Claudine whom I had so many childhood memories, now we all have children...such beautiful neices and nephews we have.
Hesistantly I gave my eulogy, cathartic as it may, I shared my story of my Aunt Letty, Pixie's mom and how proud she was of my Ate Pixie and funny memories of me at 10 years old being pushed in a shopping cart for the lack of will power to walk home. It was funny, yet I missed to say the most obvious of all...that her tenderness and pure kindness of heart was the cornerstone of her legacy she leaves with me. How her wonderful son Justin, spoke of her so thoughtfully and shared the core of who she was...a child at heart, best friend, supporting and loving mother, wife, daughter, cousin...
This day evoked so much emotion and messages: time is precious, laugh often, nurture relationships, family is golden.
Tomorrow is the Funeral Mass for Patricia Zapanta (Pixie) at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Union City at 10am.
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