Yolanda Estrada Alvarado 56, a resident of Silver City, NM entered eternal rest on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at Gila Regional Medical Center.  She was born March 13, 1952 to Gilberto and Aida (Ramirez) Estrada at Douglas, AZ.  She enjoyed sewing, playing bunko and going to casinos.  Her pride and joy were her grandkids.  They were her world and made her feel full of life when they would look at her with their beautiful smile.  She was looking forward to her two grandkids that were on the way.  She was grateful for her brothers and sisters and looked forward for her nightly prayer with her sister, Estella and her morning calls with her brother Rene.  Mrs. Alvarado loved to go visit her mother in Douglas, AZ.  Anyone that knew her knew that her family was her life and understood what it meant to be loved unconditionally.  She looked forward to her morning coffee with her special friend, Mary Bencomo.  She is survived by her loving husband, Steve Z. Alvarado of the family home; mother, Aida (Ramirez) Saavedra of Douglas, AZ; one son, Steven and wife Evelyn Alvarado of Silver City; three daughters, Pattie Montes and husband EJ of Mesa, AZ; Marisa Castrillo and husband Albert of Silver City; Corina  Barragan and husband Jack also of Silver City; three brothers, Frank Estrada and wife Frances of Globe, AZ; Gilbert Estrada and wife Celina of Tucson, AZ; Rene Estrada and wife Bertha of Tucson, AZ; five sisters, Estella Morales and husband David of Tucson, AZ; Letty Medrano and husband Nico of Douglas; Terry Llanes and husband George of Douglas; Lilly Gibbons and husband Dirk of Tucson and Lucy Verovich of Tucson; six grandkids, Matt, Daniel, Ethan, Grace, Avery and Isabelle; best friend, Mary Bencomo; special friends, Elsa Thompson, Rosario Montes and Bunko girls.  She is preceded in death by her father, Gilberto Estrada; paternal grandparents, Jose and Catalina Estrada; maternal grandparents, Armando and Maria Jesus Ramirez; one grandchild, Andres Montes.   Prayer vigil and Holy rosary will take place Friday, February 13th at 7:30pm at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Douglas, AZ with Deacon Tom Willis reciting.  The funeral mass will take place Saturday, February 14th at 10:30am at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Father Gilbert Malu officiating.  Pallbearers will be Rene, Gilbert Sr. and Frank Estrada, Albert Castrillo, Jack Barragan and David Morales Jr.  Honorary pallbearers will be David Morales Sr. Dirk Gibbons, George Llanes Sr., Jesse Montes Jr., Jesse Montes Sr., Sam Bencomo, Frank Owen, Armando Alvarado, Gilbert Estrada Jr. and Rene Fimbres.  In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made to GRMC Cancer Center 1313 E. 32nd St. Silver City, NM. 88061.  Cremation will take place at Terrazas Crematory.  Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Terrazas Crematory “Trusted care for the ones you love” ~ (575)537-0777.  To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.

Mother

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. “Is this the long way?” she asked. And the guide said: “Yes, and the way is hard.

And you will be old before you reach the end of it.  But the end will be better than the beginning.”

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years.

So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them, and the young mother cried, “Nothing will ever be lovelier than this”.

Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, “Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come.”

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary.

But at all times she said to the children, “A little patience and we are there.”

So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, “Mother, we would not have done it without you.”

And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said, “This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I’ve given them strength.”

And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: “Look up.  Lift your eyes to the light.”

And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness.

And the night the Mother said, “This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God.

And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old, and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide.

And mother said, “I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them.”

And the children said, “You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.”

And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her.

And they said: “We cannot see her but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory.

She is a living presence………”

Your mother is always with you….She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street; she’s the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks; she’s the cool hand on your brow when you’re not well.

Your Mother lives inside your laughter.

And she’s crystallized in every tear drop. She’s the place you came from, your first home; and she’s the map you follow with every step you take.

She’s your first love and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time, not space…..not even death!