Rest in Peace: Maria Enedina Villafranco Moreno

My Mom's sister-in-law, Maria Moreno, passed away earlier in the week. According to my uncle, Israel (tio Ray), she was ready to meet her Maker. My memories of my aunt Maria were of seeing her and tio Ray when my tio David Moreno had surgeries, when they attended my niece Erica's wedding last June 2009, and of course during Moreno family reunions. For the last several years, Sara and I have taken Mama to the reunions when we could. Maria was always there helping in some way or another then her and my tio would always take time to come sit with Mama and us (Sara and I) and kept us entertained. Maria was a nice lady and she always had something nice to say. You could tell that my uncle and her were very close and that they cared deeply for one another. We will miss her going forward as those closest to her surely will.

I feel badly for all her loved ones especially their children and her mother, but mostly right now for my uncle because they were together for so many years and he is naturally distraught over losing her. But with the love they had and which will continue, I am quite certain tio Ray is going to be okay. It seems they have been in love for the past 48, 49 years. According the the Lubbock AJ obituary, she was 15 when she fell in love with Ray and she was almost 64 when she passed away. She would have been 64 this October 2010. That is such a long time. I cannot imagine loving someone that long - myself not having experienced love for that length of time, but I can appreciate it because I do wish it for myself - for everyone. A long, healthy, mutual love is what we all seek and it seems our aunt Maria and uncle Ray found it. May our tio find peace during his time of sorrow. Words often fail in comforting the surviving loved ones - that I do know first-hand. So with that in mind, I will simply add that I will keep the family in prayers.

I believe that the 2010 Moreno family reunion will take place as scheduled this coming September. According to Mama, Maria really wanted to try attending, but He had a different plan all together. I am certain everyone will remember her - miss her for sure without a doubt - but will remember her quite fondly. I know I will.
We (Dominguez family) are extremely sad that we could not attend the funeral today, but that does not mean aunt Maria was not in our constant thoughts and for sure in our hearts. She will be missed.

Sincere condolences from the Eva Moreno-Dominguez family
(Big Spring / Midland, Texas)
to the
Ray and Maria Moreno family.