Yaya Remembered

 

On Thursday we had the funeral mass for Yaya.  It was absolutely beautiful.  It was everything she would have loved.

Many of our cousins were able to attend which was so nice.  It was great to visit with them even under these sad circumstances. 

The best thing happened at the end of the mass.  After her casket was taken out of St. Mary's Basilica, there were a lot of people standing on the balcony overlooking the street and waving.  There was a motorcade going by and it was President Biden, who was speaking in Tempe.  He was waving to everyone and they were waving back. It couldn't have been more fitting for this to happen at the end of Yaya's funeral.  She was a Democrat through and through and made sure that everyone knew it.  It was so cool!

I was able to say a few words in honor of my wonderful cousin, Yaya.   Here is what I said:

As I sat down to try to write about Yaya, I knew that I couldn’t begin to put down in words what she meant to so many of us.   She was so loved  for many different reasons.

She had integrity, empathy, kindness and she was FUN to be with.  Her sense of humor was second to none.

I know that Yaya spent time in Douglas when she was young but I don’t have many memories of that because she was 12 years older than me.  I know that my mom and Teresa dearly loved her.  They always described her as “feisty” which she certainly was.   I remember hearing stories about her biting and how they couldn’t take her places, especially the dentist, because of this bad habit.  My earliest memory was running up the steps in Douglas as fast as I could so she wouldn’t pinch my butt!  Unfortunately, I wasn’t always fast enough.

The best childhood memories were of going to California and meeting all of the Sacramento cousins, Phoenix cousins and various friends and visiting both Eddie and Yaya.  She was becoming a nun and was in Montecito and Eddie was at the Mission in Santa Barbara.  It was hard for me to imagine that angelic nun biting and pinching, but it was TRUE!

I would be up here for hours if I talked about all of the memories from our years in Phoenix after she and Tony were married.  They were the absolute best of times!

We had season tickets for ASU football games thanks to our Aunt Teresa.  Yaya was such a die hard ASU fan and our seats were in a section where they sold tickets to the opposing team.  I think ASU would have rethought that if they had known Yaya.  She cheered over the opposing fans—ASU, ASU. I can still hear her.  But probably the best memory was her throwing ice or popcorn down on people who were cheering for the other team.  They would turn around and look and of course no one every suspected Yaya who was sitting there innocently with her hands across her lap or she would be looking behind her to try to see who the culprit was and throw them off.   I think they thought it was Cecilia and I. 

During summers, I loved going with Tony and Yaya all over northern Arizona campaigning for Democratic candidates and helping them cook the wonderful Mexican food that Tony was famous for.   Tony was a politician through and through and could tell stories and entertain people for hours.  Yaya was the perfect politician’s spouse and was always so supportive.  I learned a lot about what a good marriage is watching those two interact.

On a professional level, Yaya helped me institute several programs when I was a principal.  I was able to send teachers to observe her classroom at Herrera and she was always available to assist my teachers.   I appreciated her love of teaching and understood the importance of literacy so much. 

I could go on and on to describe what an incredible life she led, how much she meant to so many people, and what a joy she was to be around.

Tomorrow night after she is laid to rest next to her beloved Tony in Flagstaff, the beautiful statue of Our Lady of the Rockies in Butte, Montana where Dave and I have a home, will be lit in Memory of Yaya.  Our Lady of the Rockies is a statue that is dedicated to women of all denominations everywhere.  However, it is still “Catholic” and that makes Yaya’s dedication even more meaningful.  Here is what the newspaper will publish about the lighting.

In loving memory of Margaret Gabaldon who left this world a better place on Sept. 24, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.   She was a beloved sister, aunt, cousin , step mother, grandmother, friend and educator and she will be dearly missed.  Love, Sheila and Dave Uggetti and Judy and Ken Engel

Yaya, you were one of a kind and we are all better people for having you in our lives.  In the words of Bob Hope, “Thanks for the memories……..” Memories that will be forever cherished!