The day she died, I was only 9 years old, obviously I didn’t fully understand what death was or what it even meant to lose someone. I remember sitting on my fathers lap the day after they had gone to say goodbye, crying when I finally understood that my favorite person in the world was gone, forever.
This is the story of a woman who did so much good in her life, from teaching valuable lessons, to helping anyone who needed it. Her name was Sagradio Ramirez. She was born and raised in Mexico then moved to the United States when she was only a child. She grew up in Berwyn, IL and went through many hardships in life for not speaking the “right” language or not having the same background as everyone else. She passed away during the covid pandemic in 2020. She died from cancer but lived a long and happy life. She was a very special person to me. She was named my godmother, my madrina, at my baptism. For those who don’t know what that is, being someone’s godmother is like being a second mom to that person and is even more special for baptism ceremonies.
Sagradio brightened any room she walked in just by being her happy and full of spirit self. Ever since I can remember she always helped others or showed kindness without expecting something in return but instead for the smiles it would bring to people’s faces. An example would be when she gave her shoes to a homeless man and walked back to her car barefoot. These moments, along with many others, reflect that she was a selfless and caring person. If her family wasn’t there to witness some of these types of acts, she would never tell anyone because she never wanted a type of recognition for doing something she believed was just a part of being a human being.
Another thing she always did was give money to anyone she saw living on the streets. No matter how many people told her they would just use it for drugs and other bad things, she said that if there is just a small chance they could use that for food then it’s a risk she’s willing to take. These types of acts were normal for her to do in life and I remember thinking how someone this kind and thoughtful could have their life cut short. For a while I was mad at everything that had to do with my faith because since I was a child I remembered her being so connected to God and everything she believed. So, for such a devoted and caring woman to leave this world as fast as she did had me doubt everything I knew. Still, I knew that if she was still here she would tell me that you can’t control everything that happens in the world and that sometimes those things happen for a reason. While I miss her everyday and will never forget her. The best way to remember her is to keep her lessons and memories with me. This is why I have always strived to be as kind and caring as she was, even though no one can ever be as genuine and considerate as her. I try everyday to be as close to her as I can be.
Everyone has lost someone special to them, and if not, one day you will, because that is just a part of life. It took me a long time to realize that and to accept when people you love leave, the best thing to do is to keep living with their memories close. I have a locket her family gave me after she passed that I have worn everyday since because it is a symbol of the moments, talks, and memories shared with her.
She was my madrina, my hero, and my special person.
Renata Andrade – Culver Academies – DMSF Class of 2029
Photo Credit: Kawsar Rushan – Adobe Stock