We come here to say goodbye or Au revoir to Gabriela.
Gabriela was a daughter, sister, wife, aunt and a friend.
She was born in Villaguay, in the Province of Entre Rios,
in Argentina on the 27th of October of 1961.
Being the daughter of a military officer meant many and
often changes of residence during her early years, with new friends, new schools
and new towns she called home, including the Holy Land just walking distance to
the city of Jerusalem.
She was the middle daughter of 4 siblings, something she
struggled with for many years, primarily during her early and teen years.
During her late teens she embarked in the university to
become an architect, a very demanding endeavor that took many hours of her
sleep, and that would not pay dividends as she decided that it was not for her.
In April of 1989, a few months after Emma and I traveled
to Argentina to finalize our legal residency in the USA, she decided to try her
luck in America.
Her beginnings were the beginnings of many people who
come to try their luck in this great country, with lots of enthusiasm, and some
disappointments, trying to learn the language, trying to adapt herself as best
she could. She lived with us for a few months, and thanks to her persistence
and determination she pushed ahead.
She was determined to make it in the big apple, and made
it she did. She lived at the Jeanne D’Arc Residence for many years. In the
early '90s she lived in the Bronx with 2 roommates. She later went back to Manhattan to the
Residence on 24th St.
Happiness was knocking on the door, and in September of 2003
she married Juan Williams
In mid-2006 she graduated at the N.Y.U. with a degree as a social worker.
She had finally made it in New York.
They were living in Manhattan just as they both aspired
to.
She had the world at her feet.
But life has it’s not so happy moments. She had started a
few years before with bone marrow issues that evolved into Leukemia.
In march of 2011 Juan passed away from a long illness.
She struggled with her health for some time, she had
periods where she was better, and then there were others in which she was not
so good.
In the past few weeks her health deteriorated rather
quickly, until God stepped in to say enough, my daughter, you fought the good
fight, but now it’s time to come home with me.
And in the morning of Thursday July 30th God
took her home, so that the suffering would end, she will there join her beloved
Juan, and all her ancestors that went before her.
Although there is pain and sorrow for those of us who
stay on our own paths what gives us great comfort is to know that she is with
her God and her savior enjoying paradise.
We are grateful for her life, although we may consider it
brief, we were fortunate enough that she
shared her path with us. She enriched our lives and gave us the best of
herself, that is something that we will cherish and take with us for the rest
of our lives.
Gabriela, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and
be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his
countenance upon you, and give you peace.
Estamos todos reunidos hoy aca para decir adios a
Gabriela.
Gabriela era una hija, hermana, esposa, tia y amiga.
Nacio en Villaguay, en la provincia de Entre Rios, en
Argentina el 27 de Octubre de 1961.
Siendo hija de un oficial military significo muchos y
seguidos cambios de residencia durante su infancia y adolescencia, con nuevos
amigos, nuevas escuelas y nuevas ciudades a las cuales llamo su casa,
incluyendo Tierra Santa a una corta distancia de la ciudad de Jerusalem.
Era la hija del medio de cuatro hermanos, algo con lo que
tuvo que luchar, primordialmente durante sus primeros años y su adolescencia.
Al terminar el secundario se embarco en la Universidad para
estudiar Arquitectura, una decision que le demandó muchas horas de sueño, y que
no pagó frutos, dado que decidió que no era para ella.
En Abril de 1989, unos pocos meses despues que Emma y yo
viajasemos a la Argentina para finalizar nuestra situación legal en EEUU, se
decidió a probar suerte en el país del norte.
Sus comienzos fueron los mismos de otra gente que viene a
probar su suerte en este gran país, con mucho entusiasmo, algunas desilusiones,
tratando de aprender el idioma, intentando adaptarse lo mejor que pudiese.
Vivió con nosotros por unos meses, y gracias a su persistencia y determinación
tiro para adelante.
Estaba decidida a conquistar a
Nueva York, y la conquistó. Vivió en la Residencia Jeanne D’Arc por un tiempo.
Al principio de los ‘90s vivió con dos compañeras en el Bronx. Luego volvió a
Manhattan a la Residencia de la calle 24.
La felicidad estaba golpeando
a la puerta, y en Setiembre del 2003 se casó con Juan Williams.
En el medio del 2006 se graduó en la Universidad de Nueva York (NYU - New York University) de trabajadora
social/psicologa.
Habia finalmente conquistado a
Nueva York.
Estaban viviendo en Manhattan
como los dos deseaban.
Tenia el mundo a sus pies.
Pero la vida tiene sus
momentos no tan felices. Unos años antes había comenzado con problemas de médula
que terminarían convirtiendose en leucemia.
En Marzo del 2011 falleció
Juan despues de una larga enfermedad.
Gabriela luchó y padeció con
su salud durante un tiempo, en el cual disfrutaba de buenos períodos, como también otros que no lo eran.
En estas últimas semanas su
salud se deterioró con bastante rapidez,
hasta que Dios dijo basta, mi hija, has luchado una buena batalla, pero ahora
ha llegado el momento de que vengas a casa conmigo.
Y en la mañana del Jueves 30
de Julio Dios se la llevó a casa, para que ya no haya mas sufrimiento. Ahi se
re-encontrará con su adorado Juan, y todos los ancestros que se han ido antes
que ella.
A pesar de que hay dolor y
pena para los que quedamos en nuestros propios caminos, nos queda la
satisfacción de saber que ella está con su Dios y su Salvador disfrutando del
paraíso celestial.
Estamos agradecidos por su
vida, aunque podamos considererla breve, tenemos la fortuna de que ella
compartió su camino con nosotros.
Gabriela enriqueció nuestras
vidas y nos dio lo mejor de si misma, eso es algo que vamos a valorar y llevar con
nosotros por el resto de nuestras vidas.
Gabriela, El Señor te bendiga
y te guarde; El Señor haga resplandecer Su rostro sobre ti, Y tenga de ti
misericordia; El Señor alce sobre ti Su rostro, Y te dé paz.
