Oralia Bueno

My mom, Oralia, passed away on February 16, 2011. She was 60 years old. She fought a courageous battle for 14 months and did it with quiet courage, humor, and faith. She is survived by her husband of 35 years and her 2 children, Leti (me) and Ernest, Jr. and a few grand-dogs.
That’s her end story but it was her life story that made her memorable and her absence such a presence in the lives of many. My mom loved to celebrate everything in life. To say she was feisty would be an understatement and in the same regard, the word generous isn’t big enough of a word to describe who she was for others. My mom’s passion to help her friends, family and strangers; her witty comebacks; knack for storytelling and her “I got your back” fierce love shaped me into who I am. I will be forever grateful to her for that. She lived a good life that gave to others. Even as she went through treatment, she was more than willing for research to be done on her case so that if they couldn’t help her, at least it could help someone else.
When she was told by one of her 1st doctors that she had a GBM, “the Ted Kennedy tumor”, as he put it, she answered “I don’t want his tumor but I’d like his money.” When we were told no more could be done, my dad and brother prayed with her and were distraught. After a short silence, she said “Okay, enough with the crying, someone get me some pizza.” When we were in hospice, she turned to me and asked, “Well, when am I going because I don’t get it. I’m sitting here eating French toast – when is it going to happen?” Succinct, humor, love…I miss her everyday. One of her many phrases to anyone was BuenoBye. So, mom, I will do what I can to help say BuenoBye to Brain Cancer.