Week of July 3rd Thru 11th

 

Nelly, A Remarkable Woman ...

A sad week it was. Marcia's mother Nelly, has passed away. She was 87.

On Friday, a routine checkup at the hospital was thwarted by a heart attack on the way. They resuscitated her but her lungs were collecting fluid and she needed a ventilator to breathe. Early Monday morning, her entire family gathered about as the tubes were removed and she fell asleep peacefully and with dignity.

She was a very kind and generous woman. Never spoke an unkind word of anyone. Not once. Marcia and I took her on "Car Rides" and vacations. Motorcycle rides, sailing, trips back home to Bolivia and travels all over the world - Nelly was always open and not afraid of something new.

A wake and service was held in our home Tuesday evening and burial was in Benson Mn the following morning. In all my travels, this was one of the most beautiful and meaningful funerals I have been witness to in its simplicity and dignity.

She will be missed by all who knew her.

 

From Her Daughters

Our mother Nelly, was a good woman. Honest, as the day is long, hard working and loyal. Mom was not a woman of too many words, if she could not say something good about someone, she would not offer an opinion. Mom liked music, food, roses and all kinds of flowers. Mom did crossword puzzles - in English and did them often. She crocheted for as long as her hands and eyes would allow it. Mom was also funny and loved to tell us stories about growing up, like riding horse back with her parents and sister to Argentina.

But most of all she loved to talk about Hugo - our dad. Mom and dad did not have too many years together as death came early for dad.

Mom loved to travel and often would remember all the places she visited in this country and abroad.

Mom loved her grandchildren and great grand daughter very much and loved her many cats.

We will all miss mom, there is no other like her in this world.

We love you mom!!

 

Nelly's Story

Her story starts northeast of Santa Cruz Bolivia in a remote village. No doubt, she played with rag dolls, made mud pies and played games with the children in her school and graduated from High School. Later in life, she met and married Hugo Otero.

Crossing streams, riding a horse, they moved to an area where he was successful as a lumberman.

Set back and imagine supper is on the stove, the sun is setting on a wonderful day. She looks out the door and waits for Hugo to return.

In this setting, Martha was born. Four years later, Marcia. A few months later, he was involved in an accident, contracted gangrene and died.

Imagine how hard it was for Nelly to return home at thirty years of age with a toddler and infant in tow. To earn money she baked breads and pastries in an outdoor wood fired oven and sold them from her kitchen door.

Somehow, she provided for a Catholic School education for her girls. And after graduation, Martha attended an private Catholic College at Sinsinawa and Marcia, at the University of Minnesota. Quite an accomplishment indeed.

After Martha married David, they welcomed her to their home and has lived with them since.

Besides living in Bolivia, she has seen Guatemala, Mexico, California, Texas and now Minnesota. Took trips to see friends in Texas and New York and found herself back in Bolivia several times. She has vacationed in Maryland, the Grand Canyon, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and went back to see the nuns from Bolivia at Sinsinawa several times over these years.

At an advanced age, she wanted to become a US Citizen and after two years of study passed her test in English, much to the Judge' surprise.

She would send eMails to her friends and relatives and learn the latest news from Bolivia on the Internet.

This is Nelly's Story ...