For the second time: The Dominican way of dealing with death

Hillbilly

Moderator
Jan 1, 2002
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This is the second time I have to tell my many friends of a passing.

Yesterday morning my wife of 48.5 years suffered a massive heart attack. She did not
experience pain and went "peacefully" ...

The experience was shattering, although there were plenty of signs that things were not good.
For some time she had been suffering, like her mother before her, from dementia, and was pretty much under 24/7 care.

She was one of the great ones;
exiled under Trujillo she excelled in her school in Boston winning a huge number of medals for academic excellence.
Upon her return to the DR, I met her on 15 August 1963. We became "novios" on Oct 10 and we were married on 26 December 1965..

I insisted on her studying at the university, since she had a full scholarship to Trinity College in Washington, DC. However, her mother would never let her go there, alone, so she applied to the UCMM (now PUCMM) in Santiago, which had just started classes in 1962.

She was one of 75 students admitted to Electro-Mechanical Engineering and was the only female. She graduated together with 12 companions in 1969.
She taught math at the Superior Agricultural Institute and in 1970 became a professor i n the UCMM...40 years later, somewhat affected by the onset of a type of dementia that features vertigo....She retired for active teaching.
During those 40 years she served a term in the Santiago city Council, she was the administrator of the government's tobacco company (CAT) a monster company back then that went toe to toe with Marlboro. In fact she brought in RJ REynolds to be able to compete...The first time that Leon Jimenes was scared..

She also did a Master of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science, headed the Admissions office of UCMM, and several other positions...All in all a pretty fair haul for a gal from Mao.

According to UNESCO she was the first female electro-mechanical engineer in Latin America!

Oh yeah...all the while she had four c-sections, three boys and a girl, and we also raised 7 foster kids. including a doctor (known to more than a few DR1ers), three dentists, a computer engineer, a social worker and a housewife!...just to keep busy...again, a very Dominican thing to do.

Yesterday, after she was pronounced, she was prepared and then sent to the Blandino Funeral Home in Santiago.
Public viewing began at 7:00 and lasted until 11:eek:o p.m. I was amazed at the number of persons from all walks of life that appeared.

This morning at 8:00 viewing was renewed and at nine, my departmental director Diego Lopez, was kind enough to have a prayer session, again to a packed room...people continued to come and go, some for a long time and some just to "be seen" but all with nice sentiments.
At 3:00 we had a Mass by one of our colleagues, a Jesuit who was a particular friend of ours, and a 4:00 we took her to the cemetery of El Ingenio where she was placed in a family pantheon. I can't tell you how many tears flowed. (They are flowing as I write this)...losing a companion of 48 years is tough...no matter what. None of the brave front crap...they just flowed...

That was the end of the major trauma of death in the Dominican Republic. There are still nine days of masses at the Female Polytechnic Institute where people who could not make the public viewings will show up to pay their respects.

Intense two days Gut wrenching Loss, grief, sadness, exhaustion, resignation.


Be well,


HB
 
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frank12

Gold
Sep 6, 2011
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Really sorry to hear this sad news. Beautiful story about your wife.

My condolences.

Frank
 

malko

Campesino !! :)
Jan 12, 2013
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I wish to extend my deepest condolences to you and your whole family.
 

AlterEgo

Administrator
Staff member
Jan 9, 2009
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South Coast
Luis, I'm so very sorry to hear of your wife's passing, your words about her convey the love and respect you had for her. My deepest condolences to you and your family.
 

Robert

Stay Frosty!
Jan 2, 1999
20,574
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dr1.com
Luis, your wife was truly one of the planets great people and will be forever remembered by the thousands of lives she touched and enriched, including my own on the few occasions I had the pleasure of meeting her. My deepest condolences to you and your family.
 

wrecksum

Bronze
Sep 27, 2010
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Sounds like an exceptional lady HB.

You have been a lucky man and I wish you the best and good fortitude.Things will be different now and you will need your courage.
Be well.
 

La Rubia

Bronze
Jan 1, 2010
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What a very sweet tribute. Thank you for sharing a bit about her, you've certainly lost a beautiful soul.

May you find strength and comfort in the days ahead.
 

drescape24

Bronze
Nov 2, 2011
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Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss.
You were truly blessed to have a true life partner and such deep love.
 

mobrouser

Bronze
Jan 1, 2002
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A beautiful farewell to a beautiful woman. My sympathy to all her knew her, and especially to you HB who cherished her for over 50 years.
 

zoey_kat

Active member
Feb 2, 2007
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Hillbilly, I am so sorry for your loss. Your wife sounds like an amazing person, and you two had a wonderful life - so many great years. I hope your memories will help to comfort you during this difficult time.
 

PICHARDO

One Dominican at a time, please!
May 15, 2003
13,280
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Santiago de Los 30 Caballeros
I'm sorry for your loss. Truly a very hard thing to happen and a very tough road ahead in the coming days. But be sure we all feel for your loss and hope to God day after day it gets a bit less harder for you.
 

keepcoming

Moderator - Living & General Stuff
May 25, 2011
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I am so sorry for your loss. I am sure that many here share your tears. Your wife while gone will never be forgotten.
 
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waytogo

Moderator - North Coast Forum
Apr 3, 2009
6,407
580
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Santiago DR
You lived a full life with your soul mate...........
You were one of the lucky one's.......
Today and always, may loving memories bring you peace, comfort, and strength.........

Barry
 

bronzeallspice

Live everyday like it's your last
Mar 26, 2012
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I extend my deepest condolences to you and your family. The happy memories will comfort you in the days ahead.