THE ARMESTO FAMILY WEBSITE DEDICATED TO CARMEN FONSECA ARMESTO ON 08.08.08
The Armesto Family wishes to dedicate this website to Carmen Fonseca Armesto on her birthday this year, August 8, 2008. In her golden years, Carmen lived long enough to become a much loved great-grandmother, grandmother, third cousin, second cousin, first cousin, great-aunt, and aunt, but in her younger years she lived to be a mother, sister-in-law, aunt, niece, great-granddaughter, granddaughter, and daughter to those of the Alvaran, DeLeon, Flores, and Fonseca families. She wills that the peace in heaven she finds now will console those left behind into finding the peace on earth for which the family members should strive. Life is short so value your time wisely. We hope this short poem/story might help and console your grief.
Gone From My Sight
by Henry Van Dyke
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone"
Gone where?
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.
And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"
And that is dying...
We also want to dedicate this website to Elisa "Licha" Garza Fonseca who traveled to that distant shore on October 6, 2007. Carmen and Licha had the same cancer and even though they were sisters-in-law, they were sisters in every way. They spoke daily and when Carmen left us on July 15, 2008, we know Licha, was on the other shore saying, "Here she comes!" Please be sure to check the family tree to see who else waits on that distant shore for the rest of us.
THE TRADITION OF RECITING THE ROSARY FOR LOVED ONES
Carmen was also known for her gift of reciting the rosary and we always talked about recording her but we just never got around to doing it. A few days before she passed on, she got a burst of energy and led us in a final rosary with the help of her sister, Lupe Fonseca.
Shoulda, woulda, coulda! The phrase does not hit you until it is too late to do something you have been meaning to do. Since we don't have a recording of mom saying the rosary, we encourage everyone to start this tradition which mom had that is just as good as if we could hear mom saying the rosary.
Make a list of the dates of birth of loved ones and acquaintances. And when you recite your daily rosary, say the names of the people whose birth date falls on that day so that a rosary is said for that person each month. For example if your birth date falls on the 12th, a rosary will be said for you on the 12th of each month. For short months, such as February, on the 28th you will recite the rosary for all those whose birth dates fall on days 28, 29, 30, and 31. It also keeps you thinking of those loved ones.
If tomorrow never comes...
by Norma Cornett Marek ~1989
If I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly, and pray the Lord your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss, and call you back for just one more.
If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would tape each word and action, and play them back throughout my days
If I knew it would be the last time, I would spare an extra minute or two,
To stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming you know I do.
So just in case tomorrow never comes, and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you, and I hope we never will forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight.
So if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day
That you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss,
And you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today, and whisper in their ear,
That you love them very much, and you'll always hold them dear.
Take time to say "I'm sorry," "Please forgive me," "thank you" or "it's okay".
And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today.
