Sunday, June 26, 2022
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Heaven gained another angel, my grandmother Beatriz Mahecha Perea, on the evening of June 22, 2022. I spoke to my grandmother Betty just two days before as she was watching a show with my mom, chilling on the couch. I can still hear her voice, “ Mama.. como estas? Y little Joe? Y Izzy?” Y Big Joe” So many emotions come to mind with my grandmother's passing, as she was one of the most influential people in my life. My own daughter Isabella, is named after my grandmother’s mother Isabel because these two strong women raised my mother and forever changed my mom’s life and my own life.
For starters, she raised my mother, Emily Moreno and her twin sister Sandra Rodgers from 3 months old to 12 years old, despite not being biologically hers. Destiny changed when my mothers biological parents decided they wanted the twins back at the age of 12, nevertheless this forced separation only made my Mom and grandmother Bettys bond grow to be impenetrable. This steadfast bond only continued to grow for the next 47 years until the day my grandmother Betty left this earth. She taught my mom about unconditional love, about being a good person, having a strong voice, standing up for what is right and far too many things to mention.
Growing up, I loved my grandmother Betty, for always being there for my mother and all of us, never forgetting a birthday, holiday or special event with her presence, a call or present. She was always there like a steady unwavering maternal force.
The amount of love, respect and honor only continued to grow as I became a grown woman, later a mother. After gaining even more perspective, I grew to admire my grandmother tenfold. My grandmother was a woman truly ahead of her time.
My grandmother had a history of raising children that were not her own because that was her heart. She eventually was blessed with her own child, Ivette Bova, my cousin who she also raised as a single mother. My grandmother had a Doctorate in Political Science and Masters in education. She was a school principal for many years in Colombia. My grandmother never stopped learning and she was always informed. Literally there was rarely a news headline that she didn’t know about. My grandmother, despite her age, used technology and was always the first to comment on my posts. My grandmother was a fierce sports fan and never missed a soccer game. She was a huge animal lover and passed that on to my cousin Ivette. She was passionate about her beliefs and opinions. We didn’t always agree, but that is exactly what I loved about her, I always knew where I stood with her. There were no secrets, just the truth, whether you wanted to hear it or not.
When I got to thinking about the timing of her departure from this earth, it seemed divinely planned. My mother had just spent the week pampering her, while my cousin was away. My aunt Sandra had just cut her hair and my cousin had just arrived that morning from her trip. She was waiting to see all of her babies before leaving this earth. And when she left, she was still at the top of her game, still sharp, still opinionated, still passionate, and still with the largest heart you ever knew.
Thank you Abuelita Betty for the time I was able to share and learn from you in this lifetime. I know that you will continue to watch my back although it will be from heaven. I will miss your calls, I will miss your voice, I will miss your presence, my heart aches for my mom that won't get to talk to you anymore, but I know you are in a better place and waiting for all of us.
Love, your first granddaughter Mona
