Aye Que Mi Mama!: That's My Mother!

By Humbert H. Serrato and Patsy Ledbetter

Herminia Rosalia Aguirre - Nee Garcia was born on September 11,
1910 and passed away on August 13, 1990. This is a not meant to be
a formal biography. Instead it is a story highlighting her unusual life
occurrences and adventures. The factual data is based mainly on real
life memories as told by her son most of which is written in a first
person account format. There are also significant data contributions
from her two daughters: Irene Marchello; and Heide Happoldt; (both
nee Aguirre) covering the years when they joined the family. Irene
and Heide also provide personal accounts in a first person format in
the books appendix section. Data was also obtained over the years
from accounts and remembrances of various other family members
and friends - a large number of which have since passed away.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477101391

Humbert H. Serrato

Herminia Rosalia Aguirre - Nee Garcia was born on September 11, 1910 and passed away on August 13, 1990. This is a not meant to be a formal biography. Instead it is a story highlighting her unusual life occurrences and adventures. The factual data is based mainly on real life memories as told by her son most of which is written in a “fi rst person account” format. There are also signifi cant data contributions from her two daughters: Irene Marchello; and Heide Happoldt; (both nee Aguirre) covering the years when they joined the family. Irene and Heide also provide personal accounts in a fi rst person format in the book’s appendix section. Data was also obtained over the years from accounts and remembrances of various other family members and friends - a large number of which have since passed away.

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Copyright © 2012 by Humbert H. Serrato.

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Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter I

General Background

Chapter II

Early Childhood and Teens Life

Chapter III

Herminia’s Marriage

Chapter IV

Move to Los Angeles, The Kidnappings

Chapter V

Herminia on Her Own

Chapter VI

Return To Sonora

Chapter VII

Return To The USA

Chapter VIII

The Move To East Oakland

Chapter IX

World War II Years

Chapter X

General Personal Background

Chapter XI

Other Life Events

Chapter XII

Heide’s Wedding

Chapter XIII

My Mother’s Last Years

Appendix A

Daughter Irene Remembers

Appendix B

Daughter Heide Remembers

Appendix C

My Memories Grandaughter Nancy

Appendix D

Grandson Danny’s Memories

Appendix E

Grandson Michael Miguel Happoldt Remembers

Appendix F

Granddaughter Ingrid’s Remembrances

Appendix G

Para mi Abuelita Ingrid’s Eulogy

at Her Grandmother’s Funeral Service

Acknowledgments

Ironically my first acknowledgments go to my mother’s dear cousins Armida Bey and Virginia Mackie both nee Lopez (now deceased). These aunts were kind to my mother and me thus whenever I was in Los Angeles on business I made it a point to visit. On one such visit in the mid 1970s at Armida’s Hollywood home Virgina was also present. They asked about my mother and then proceeded to tell me about her many occurrences and antics in which she was involved most of which I was not aware. Amid the laughter Armida soberly said you know you ought to write a book about your mother. Those off hand words planted the initial seed. Every time I had a chance meeting with relatives I would ask questions about my mother and stored that information.

Patsy Ledbetter was referred to me by a successful author. Though not an author per se she wrote several published articles and is an English teacher. Her contributions were significant particularly in the startup stages where her thorough questions approach helped my thinking process. She also initially interpreted my verbal information into typed workable rough draft formats. Later she edited my refined accounts and advised on the overall book’s structure. Additionally she researched and advised on potential publishers.

Upon reading it is apparent my sisters made valuable information contributions in regard to their life span periods. And my mother’s grandchildren did themselves proud in their Appendix accounts.

My daughter Nancy became my computer technical consultant and director, and ably handled all dealings with on-line publishing requirements.

Last but certainly not least, is the yeoman editing efforts contributed by my sister Irene and my wife Marilyn.

Introduction

This collection of writings has been a long time in coming. The mastermind behind this endeavor is my daddy. Obviously, this book is about his mama, my grandma, a women who I only saw previously from a perspective of a little girl and teen-ager. This wonderful expression, first in the form of verbal memories and now written, has been like pieces of a colorful puzzle fitting together for me to see more and more a life story of an interesting, talented, feisty, strong, ambitious, stubborn, generous, loving, humorous, and outspoken person.

This book has given me the ability to look into a life, that prior, I had a small understanding. So I am thankful to my Dad for taking on such a task, a task that I am witness to, of love, and admiration for his mama.

And dad, you may say Aye Que Mi Mama! But, I have to say . . . .

Aye Que Mi Abuela!

~Nancy Irene Cornelius nee Serrato

Granddaughter to Herminia Rosalia

Chapter I

General Background

Herminia Rosalia Aguirre—Nee Garcia was born on September 4, 1910 and passed away on August 13, 1990. This is a not meant to be a formal biography. Instead it is a story highlighting her unusual life occurrences and adventures. The factual data is based mainly on real life memories as told by her son most of which is written in a first person account format. There is also significant data contributions from her two daughters: Irene Marchello; and Heide Happoldt; (both nee Aguirre) covering the years when they joined the family. Irene and Heide also provide personal accounts in a first person format in the book’s appendix section. Data was also obtained over the years from accounts and remembrances of various other family members and friends—a large number of which have since passed away.

Herminia Rosalia Garcia was a remarkable woman. She made a lasting impression good or bad on every one who ever met her because her life often seemed to be a series of adventurous escapades and unusual occurrences. She was formidable, and unwavering head strong. Jesus, her older brother, said that her first words were I KNOW BETTER! . . . Faith and family were always her first life’s priority, She was unwaveringly sure in her own abilities and relentlessly urged her children to excel and achieve in all endeavors and not waste God given talents which she insisted were a inherited family gift.

To her children, she was always viewed as a bigger than life icon and legend. Her son shakes his head in wonder that there was a woman who possessed so many attributes: exceptional beauty, intelligence, athleticism, craftsmanship, artistic ability and culinary skills. These bold statements will become evident in the subsequent chapters covering her life.

HISTORICAL FAMILY BACKGROUND

During the Spanish rule of Mexico, the government would bring immigrant families from Spain to populate the New World conquests, which included and emphasized Mexico.

Large groups of Spanish expeditions were sent throughout Northern Mexico with emphasis on. Jalisco, Sinaloa, and Sonora, my mother’s home state who she eternally felt was the best place in the entire world! Some time starting in the 1790’s large expeditions of Spanish families led by Missionary Priests accompanied by Military troops were sent to colonize northern Sonora. Many of these large expeditions were led by Eusebio Francisco Kino an Italian Missionary serving the Spanish Crown. Kino established many Missions first in Baja California and later in Sonora. He set up Mission Dolores in El Valle de Tacupeto, and a total seven other Missions including Mission Magdallena where he was buried. He is revered as the Patron Saint of Northern Mexico as is Junipero Serra in California.

Kino was an effective organizer who spearheaded the founding of many colonial pueblos. He trained and educated the populace in many industrial under takings, including wheat farming, cattle ranching and mining (a very large financial support for the Sonora colonization). In the course of establishing these settlements, there was a large (and very successful) region called El Valle de Tacupeto In this endeavor the head Spanish militia leader was a man called Capitan Federico Garcia Morales. All of my mother’s many relatives consider him like the overall Grand God Father ancestor. Some of the family names of theses early Spanish settlers included: Garcia, Antunez, Valenzuela, and Hinojosa. These families became the main nucleus of the pure Spanish blood in her family, maintained through virtual family inter marriages. Her own parents were second cousins and there were many incidences of first cousin marriages. As such the families had virtually nothing to do with non relatives as far as marriages were concerned. This was so because of a fanatic Spanish pride, and a dread of family contamination with Indian blood. Throughout my mother’s life this was a very contentious point. I stating that it was impossible for these Spanish settlements that went back to the late 1700’s could not have some Indian ancestry. To which my mother would point with pride how the large majority of our relatives who were fair skinned including some with blonde hair and blue eyes. However she ignored the fact that we also have relatives with olive complexions, (including her only son).

LA MESA DE LA GUAJE (CALABASH GOURD)

In the 1850’s two Garcia brothers, (direct line ancestors) went to California following the ‘Gold Rush. They had a successful claim in Nevada. As told to me by my Grandmother who was told to her by her great grandfather, (one of the miner brothers), times during the Gold Rush days were very arduous and dangerous. Surprisingly their most feared danger was rabies" because there was an epidemic of rabid animals in the area where my ancestors worked their claim. A close second were outlaw thieves and claim jumpers. As such the brothers always had guns nearby and at night slept in shifts.

Ultimately they managed to survive and struck it rich. One of the brothers settled in San Francisco and the other returned to Sonora and purchased a large