My Mom was a widow at age 44. My Dad passed away at age 51. He left us with struggling finances and debts, him being sick for awhile. My mother had to raise us, 7 siblings, by herself. She had no immediate family of her own. Her parents and brother were all deceased. We were the only one she had.
My Mom never had a career. She only finished 2nd grade in elementary. She only read two books in her lifetime, “ABKD” and “Pepe and Pilar” and never watched a movie for her own leisure. She dedicated her whole life as a mother. Through hardwork, she was able to send us all, seven, to college. (2 doctors, 1 Police Colonel, 2 Business Administration, 1 Marketing Major and 1 Music Major).
Standing from L to R: Renato, Bonifacio Jr, Adolfo, Liberato and Roberto. Seated from L to R: Elizabeth, Elena (mother) and Elenita.
When my mother died at the age of 86, we discovered that she did not have money and had no properties, no bank books and no land titles. She would lived with one of my siblings then would move to another, then to another, enjoying their company.
After her funeral, all 7 of us gathered around the original family long table. My oldest brother, who is also a doctor, presided and said, “Now, we are going to distribute mom’s possessions equally to her children.” Then, he grabbed an old big envelope and started distributing. “Here are her old pictures, small calendars, coins, old letters, old IDs…”
I happily received her old ID and few pictures. The seven of us were very appreciative of what my mother had done to us. Since she did not leave any material wealth, we were never given the chance to fight for the money.
We embraced and left the house happily, still loving each other. I’m so grateful I got the old ID and pictures and the life experience she gave!
We could not divide my mom’s wealth. They were in our hearts.
Happy Mother’s Day!
